Maldives and Pakistan exchange 20 agreements to expand cooperation

The Maldives and Pakistan have exchanged 20 agreements covering a broad range of sectors, including education, healthcare, tourism and defence, during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing state visit to Pakistan.

The agreements were exchanged at a special ceremony, marking efforts to deepen bilateral relations, establish new areas of collaboration and strengthen existing partnerships.

The arrangements include government-level cooperation and partnerships between institutions in both countries.

Areas covered by the agreements

The agreements provide for cooperation in the following areas:

• Technical and vocational education and training - joint efforts to advance skills development and vocational training.

• Higher education - cooperation between the Maldives’ Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission.

• Youth and sports - youth empowerment and sports development.

• Tourism - strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector.

• Culture, heritage and the arts - expanding collaboration across cultural and creative fields.

• Environmental protection - cooperation on environmental matters.

• Agriculture - strengthening agricultural cooperation.

• Defence and maritime security - collaboration in defence and maritime security.

• Technology and innovation - cooperation in information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills, innovation and creativity.

• Combating trafficking and narcotics - strengthening cooperation against trafficking and narcotics.

• Social protection - collaboration to strengthen social protection.

• Fisheries - developing cooperation in the fisheries sector.

• Air connectivity - expanding air links between the Maldives and Pakistan.

Institutional partnerships

Several institutions also entered into arrangements covering specialised areas of cooperation:

• Health regulation - the Maldives Food and Drug Authority and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation.

• Public service - the Maldives’ Civil Service Commission and Pakistan’s Federal Public Service Commission established two agreements.

• Police training - the Maldives’ National College of Policing and Law Enforcement and Pakistan’s Police Academy reached an agreement on training.

• Essential goods - the State Trading Organisation and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan signed an agreement for the supply of essential goods required by the Maldives.

Representing the Maldives at the ceremony were Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam; Defence and National Service Minister Hassan Rasheed, Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan; Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali; and Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed.

Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer, Chief Interpreter at the President’s Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef, and Maldivian Ambassador to Pakistan Mohamed Thoha also attended the ceremony.