Pakistan and the Maldives have pledged to deepen parliamentary and bilateral ties across trade, tourism, education, climate resilience, defense and youth engagement following a high-level meeting between the Pakistan–Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group and a visiting Maldivian delegation in Islamabad. Participants committed to expanding people-to-people links, boosting economic connectivity, and coordinating on regional and international issues.
The session, chaired by Dr. Shaista Khan, Member of the National Assembly and convener of the Pakistan–Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group, welcomed the Maldivian delegation and stressed the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening institutional links and long-term cooperation. Pakistani members highlighted the importance of sustained exchanges to foster goodwill and practical collaboration.
Delegates from both sides recalled historic ties rooted in shared cultural and religious bonds, and noted Pakistan’s contribution to the Maldivian Parliament building—a major symbolic gesture funded by Pakistan in 1998 and renovated with further support in 2015—as a lasting monument to bilateral friendship.
Pakistani parliamentarians including Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Mohammad Usman Badini, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Sabheen Ghori, and Amjad Ali Khan urged expanded cooperation in areas such as trade, youth development, agriculture,
health, information technology and digital services. Coordinators Rabia Zafar and Khaldun Khan Jadoon also emphasized the need to broaden academic and cultural exchanges.
The Maldivian delegation was led by H.E. Husnee Mubarak and included MPs Mohamed Shahid, Yoosuf Nasheed and Abdul Sazee, alongside senior officials from the People’s Majlis. They thanked Pakistan for its historic support and outlined priority cooperation areas including tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, mango and agricultural exports, vocational training, and scholarships.
Both sides acknowledged substantial potential to raise bilateral trade, which currently remains under nine million US dollars annually. Pakistan highlighted export capacities in textiles, rice, cement, fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals and construction materials, while the Maldives indicated interest in exploring tuna exports to Pakistan. Delegates agreed to enhance scholarship programs and vocational training under existing frameworks such as the Pakistan Technical Assistance Program.
Connectivity was a recurring theme, with calls for launching direct flights and improving sea links to facilitate trade, tourism and academic exchanges. Tourism cooperation drew specific attention: Pakistani representatives pointed to the Maldivian one-island-one-resort model as instructive, while offering Pakistan’s scenic regions such as Swat Valley as joint tourism opportunities. Cultural initiatives including expos to showcase skills, heritage and women’s empowerment were proposed to engage youth and strengthen people-to-people ties.
Environmental and defense cooperation were also discussed. The Maldives’ leadership on climate advocacy was recognized, and both sides expressed readiness to collaborate on renewable energy, climate resilience and environmental protection. Defense ties were said to be progressing toward a formal Memorandum of Understanding and more regular staff-level consultations.
Delegates reiterated shared concern for regional peace and solidarity on key international issues, with Pakistan reaffirming its support for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions and both sides noting mutual positions on crises such as Gaza.
Sport and cultural diplomacy were highlighted as practical avenues to deepen connections. Proposals included cricket and football exchanges, involvement of prominent Pakistani cricketers as mentors, and broader cultural exports such as television serials that have grown popular in the Maldives.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to continue parliamentary exchanges and to translate dialogue into tangible cooperation across economic, educational, environmental and security domains, underscoring parliamentary diplomacy as the cornerstone of the Pakistan–Maldives partnership.
