The Maldives and Pakistan have exchanged 20 agreements covering key sectors, including tourism, education, healthcare and defence, as the two countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation.
The two countries exchanged the agreements at a special ceremony during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's ongoing state visit to Pakistan. The agreements cover areas in which both countries have agreed to provide mutual assistance, alongside efforts to strengthen cooperation in sectors where bilateral ties already exist.
Education features among the agreements, with two focusing on technical and vocational education and training, as well as higher education. One provides for joint cooperation to advance technical and vocational education and training, while the other involves the Maldives' Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Pakistan's Higher Education Commission.
Beyond education, the two Governments exchanged agreements covering youth empowerment and sports, tourism, culture, heritage and the arts, environmental protection, agriculture and defence.
Cooperation also extends to maritime security, information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills, innovation and creativity. Other agreements focus on combating trafficking and narcotics, strengthening social protection, developing fisheries cooperation and expanding air connectivity between the Maldives and Pakistan.
Alongside these Government-level agreements, several institutions from both countries established arrangements to strengthen cooperation in their respective fields.
In the health sector, the Maldives Food and Drug Authority and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation. The Maldives' Civil Service Commission and Pakistan's Federal Public Service Commission also established two agreements.
The institutional agreements further cover law enforcement, with the Maldives' National College of Policing and Law Enforcement and Pakistan's Police Academy reaching an agreement on police training.
Meanwhile, the State Trading Organisation (STO) and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) signed an agreement to supply essential goods required by the Maldives.
Representing the Maldives at the ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Defence and National Service Hassan Rasheed, Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali, and Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed.
The ceremony was attended by Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer, Chief Interpreter at the President's Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef, and the Maldives' Ambassador to Pakistan Mohamed Thoha.