ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG), under the convenership of Ms Shaista Khan, MNA, held a meeting with a visiting parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Maldives at the Parliament House on September 22, 2026.
The meeting, held in the Constitution Room, focused on further strengthening bilateral relations, parliamentary cooperation, economic engagement, connectivity, tourism and people-to-people contacts between the two brotherly countries.
Members of the National Assembly Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Ms Sabheen Ghoury, Ms Akhtar Bibi, Ms Asia Naz Tanoli, Ms Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Mr Isphanyar M. Bhandara and Mr Sanjay Perwani attended the meeting.
Welcoming the Maldivian delegation, Ms Shaista Khan said Pakistan and Maldives enjoyed longstanding and cordial relations based on mutual respect, shared values and close people-to-people ties. She emphasised the importance of sustained parliamentary interaction in further consolidating bilateral relations and providing opportunities for both sides to learn from each other’s legislative and parliamentary experiences.
The convener highlighted the Parliamentary Friendship Group mechanism as an important platform for maintaining regular institutional engagement. She expressed the desire for more frequent interaction between parliamentarians of the two countries, including reciprocal visits and virtual engagements. She also underscored the importance of strengthening broader people-to-people contacts and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The Maldivian side appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality extended by the National Assembly of Pakistan and reaffirmed the importance attached to the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Maldives.
The delegation noted the need to further reconnect the two peoples through increased parliamentary, institutional and people-to-people interaction. It also highlighted the potential for greater cooperation in medical services, food, construction, tourism, fishing and other areas, noting practical opportunities arising from Pakistan’s proximity and expertise.
The Maldivian delegation emphasised the importance of direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Maldives, particularly for facilitating tourism, business, medical travel and people-to-people contacts. Improved connectivity, it was observed, could provide greater opportunities for businesses and citizens of both countries to interact and strengthen mutually beneficial links.
The Maldivian side also referred to the forthcoming visit of the President of Maldives to Pakistan as an important opportunity for further strengthening bilateral relations.
Members of the Pakistan-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group shared their views on avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation, highlighting trade and investment, healthcare, education, information technology, skills development, agriculture, tourism and business-to-business linkages.
They emphasised the potential for Pakistan’s expertise and human resource capabilities to contribute to areas of priority for Maldives, including healthcare and skills development, while also underscoring opportunities for enhanced agricultural, commercial and technological cooperation.
The Pakistani side reiterated the importance of direct air connectivity as a key enabler of tourism, trade, medical travel and broader people-to-people interaction. Members also emphasised the value of connecting businesses and institutions from both countries to translate existing goodwill into practical cooperation.
The participants underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, high-level exchanges, connectivity and people-to-people contacts in further consolidating Pakistan-Maldives relations.
Both sides expressed their resolve to maintain regular engagement through the Parliamentary Friendship Groups and other appropriate channels and to explore new avenues of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
