ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a concrete action plan to boost trade and investment between Pakistan and the Maldives, as the two countries aim to increase bilateral trade from the existing $13 million to $200 million over the next two years.
Addressing the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum 2026 in Islamabad on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the ambitious target could be achieved through joint efforts and enhanced economic cooperation.
Delighted to address the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum with my dear brother, President @MMuizzu. We reiterated our firm resolve to deepen our bilateral ties, especially in trade and investment. I emphasized the need for stronger air and maritime connectivity, and for turning the goodwill generated during the visit into a lasting economic partnership.
🇵🇰🤝🇲🇻— Press Information Department (PID), Lahore (@LahorePress) October 22, 2026
Pakistan to send business delegation to Maldives next week
Prime Minister Sharif announced that Pakistan would send a delegation comprising business leaders and government officials to the Maldives next week to explore new trade and investment opportunities.
Emphasising the importance of connectivity in strengthening economic ties, Shehbaz Sharif called for the establishment of direct air and maritime links between the two countries. He said both governments had issued the necessary instructions to advance these initiatives.
Building stronger economic ties between the Maldives and Pakistan. 🇲🇻 🇵🇰
H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan addressed the Maldives–Pakistan Business Forum 2026, underscoring the potential to deepen bilateral trade, encourage investment and strengthen business collaboration.
#MaldivesPakistanBusinessForum @presidencymv @PakinMaldives @MDVinPakistan @CMShehbaz
— Ministry of Economic Development,Transport & Trade (@MoEDmv) October 22, 2026
The Prime Minister stressed that the bilateral trade target would remain difficult to achieve without a reliable direct shipping service connecting Karachi and Gwadar with Malé.
New era of trade, investment and shared prosperity
Speaking at the forum, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu called for building on the longstanding friendship between the two countries to usher in a new era of trade, investment and shared prosperity.
He identified several potential areas of cooperation, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and urban development, construction, banking and finance, engineering and technology, agriculture, energy, food security, cold-chain logistics, temperature-controlled storage, modern food processing and climate-resilient agricultural technologies.
Islamabad: President of the Maldives Dr. Muhammad Muizzu addresses the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum. https://t.co/fOOJCdham8
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 22, 2026
President Muizzu underscored that trade depended on connectivity, describing maritime links as an economic lifeline for the Maldives, given its status as an island nation.
He urged shipping, port and logistics companies in both countries to explore direct and commercially viable maritime connections. He also encouraged airlines, aviation authorities and private-sector partners to establish direct air links and increase flight frequencies between the two countries.
Direct flights between Malé and Karachi
Announcing a step towards improved connectivity, President Muizzu said Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline, aimed to launch a direct air service between Malé and Karachi soon.
He expressed confidence that the proposed service would facilitate travel, strengthen people-to-people contacts and create new opportunities for trade, investment and tourism between the two countries.
ALSO READ: Pakistan, Maldives Explore New Avenues for Trade and Investment
The two countries on Wednesday signed a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence, information technology, cybersecurity, health, education, agriculture and tourism.
President Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit at the invitation of PM Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, and comes as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, established in 1966.
