President Muizzu Expected to Visit Islamabad This Week

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is expected to undertake an official visit to Pakistan this week, following a high-level review meeting chaired by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad to coordinate arrangements.

According to a report by Pakistani newspaper The News International, the Pakistani Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister Dar led a meeting to review bilateral arrangements. 

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“The meeting reviewed the bilateral agenda, with a focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, health, education, climate change, tourism and civil aviation,” the FO said in a statement quoted by the publication.

The media reported that President Muizzu is expected to visit Islamabad from 20 to 22 October, leading a ministerial delegation for bilateral talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. If confirmed, the trip would mark the first state visit by a Maldivian head of state to Pakistan in over a decade.

The proposed agenda focuses on expanding bilateral cooperation across trade, health, education, climate change, tourism, civil aviation, and defence, alongside discussions on establishing direct air links and revitalising SAARC.

Responding to reports regarding the scheduled visit, Maldivian Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef indicated to MV+ that while discussions remain ongoing, the official schedule is being finalised.

“Pakistani press said so. Apparently. But not necessarily. Could even be more. Still working on it. Our release will come out shortly,” Spokesperson said.

The President’s Office is expected to issue a formal statement confirming the scope and timeline of the visit in due course.