Pakistan’s Young Parliamentarians Forum President Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar hosted a delegation from the People’s Majlis of the Maldives in Islamabad, where both sides agreed to deepen parliamentary ties with a strong focus on youth engagement, education, employment and climate cooperation. The meeting produced a set of proposed initiatives aimed at expanding exchange, training and scholarship opportunities and endorsed support for the creation of a Maldivian Young Parliamentarians Forum.
The delegation and Pakistani hosts emphasized the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries and the importance of parliamentary channels in strengthening bilateral engagement. Discussions highlighted the role of young legislators and youth more broadly as key stakeholders in shaping future policy priorities in both nations.
Speakers called for renewed investment in education, skills development and civic participation to empower young people. To translate these goals into concrete action, participants proposed launching a Pakistan–Maldives Youth Parliamentary Dialogue to facilitate regular idea exchange and address shared challenges such as youth unemployment, education reform, climate action and digital innovation.
Practical measures under consideration include expanding scholarship opportunities through the Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme (PTAP), organising joint training workshops for young parliamentarians and officials, and developing structured youth exchange programmes to build capacity and mutual understanding.
Given the Maldives’ frontline exposure to climate change, delegates placed special emphasis on empowering youth-led cooperation in climate diplomacy. Areas of focus identified for collaboration included sustainable tourism, renewable energy adoption and environmental protection initiatives where young leaders can play a central role.
A notable outcome of the meeting was the delegation’s agreement to support formation of a Young Parliamentarians Forum in the Maldives, creating a formal platform for young legislators to engage in policymaking and strengthen links with Pakistani counterparts. Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and Ms. Shaista Khan, convenor of the Pakistan-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group, said they were confident the partnership would open new avenues for friendship, youth empowerment and parliamentary cooperation.
