Pakistan and Maldives sign 20 agreements, aim for $200 million trade as Muizzu visits Islamabad
The first visit by a Maldivian president in 11 years produced deals on defence, maritime security, health, IT and tourism. PM Shehbaz Sharif also warned that any violation of Pakistan's water rights would be treated as an act of war.
At a glance
- Pakistan and the Maldives signed 20 memorandums and agreements during President Mohamed Muizzu's three-day state visit, the first by a Maldivian president in 11 years.
- The two sides aim to raise annual trade from about $13.9 million to $200 million within two years.
- Deals cover defence and maritime security, health workers, IT, cybersecurity and AI, air connectivity, tourism, education, fisheries and climate.
- PM Shehbaz Sharif criticised India for holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, saying any violation of Pakistan's water rights would be regarded as an act of war.
Pakistan and the Maldives have signed 20 agreements to deepen ties in defence, trade, health and technology during a state visit by Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to Islamabad. It is the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The headline goal: $200 million trade
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a target to raise bilateral trade from about $13.9 million to $200 million within two years, and Muizzu endorsed it. A trade MoU between the Maldives State Trading Organisation and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan will cover agricultural commodities and food — products such as rice, fruit and vegetables that the Maldives imports.
What was signed
| Area | Agreements |
|---|---|
| Defence and security | Defence ties, maritime security, combating drug trafficking |
| Health | Health cooperation, recruitment of health professionals, links between drug regulators |
| Technology | IT, cybersecurity, AI, digital skills, innovation |
| Transport and tourism | Air connectivity, tourism |
| Education and youth | Technical and vocational training, education, youth and sports |
| Food and trade | Agriculture, fisheries, commodities trade |
| Society and culture | Social protection, arts and heritage |
| Environment | Climate and environmental cooperation |
Other commitments
- Pakistan will give 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds to support the Maldives' plan to plant five million trees.
- About 250 Pakistani doctors and paramedics already work in the Maldives, and Pakistan offered more medical and professional staff.
- Pakistan offered IT expertise, including help to set up data centres.
- Muizzu, who received an honorary doctorate from the International Islamic University Islamabad, said he wants more scholarships and training for Maldivian youth, including in AI and digital skills.
'Water is our red line'
At a joint appearance, Shehbaz criticised India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, saying shared water should not be used as political leverage. "Water is a lifeline for humanity and more so for lower riparian," he said, adding that Pakistan would regard any violation of its water rights as an act of war.
Kashmir and Palestine
Shehbaz said Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute to be resolved under UN Security Council resolutions, and thanked the Maldives for its support for Palestine. Muizzu backed an independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He said the agreements' success would depend on delivering real benefits to citizens, and warned that climate change is a direct threat to his low-lying island nation.
Why it matters
The Maldives sits on key Indian Ocean shipping lanes, and its foreign policy has shifted under Muizzu, who came to power promising to reduce reliance on India. Closer ties with Pakistan give Islamabad a stronger presence in the Indian Ocean and new markets for Pakistani food, medicines and professionals.
What happens next
Officials will now work on putting the agreements into practice, starting with trade, air links and health recruitment. Progress towards the $200 million target will be reviewed at future joint commission meetings.
Questions people are asking
What agreements did Pakistan and the Maldives sign?
Twenty MoUs and agreements covering defence, maritime security, health, IT and cybersecurity, AI, air connectivity, tourism, education, youth and sports, agriculture and fisheries, narcotics control, culture and the environment, signed in Islamabad on October 21, 2026.
What is the Pakistan–Maldives trade target?
To raise bilateral trade from about $13.9 million to $200 million within two years, a goal announced by PM Shehbaz Sharif and endorsed by President Muizzu.
How many Pakistanis work in the Maldives?
About 250 Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff work in the Maldives, and Pakistan has offered to send more medical and professional staff.
