Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Urges Strengthening Trade Ties with Maldives as Bilateral Trade Target Set at $200 Million

Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has called for swift action to strengthen trade ties with the Maldives, stating that the time has come to turn commitments into tangible results. Speaking at the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum in Islamabad, held during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's state visit to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that both countries have agreed to increase bilateral trade from the current $13 million to $200 million within the next two years. He emphasized the importance of establishing direct air and shipping links to facilitate business and tourism, and revealed that he has directed Pakistan's Civil Aviation Ministry to expedite the first direct flight from Pakistan to the Maldives, possibly through Pakistan International Airlines or another Pakistani carrier. The Prime Minister also noted that President Muizzu has informed him that Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, will work to commence direct flights between the two countries. During the visit, the two nations signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) covering diverse areas including civil aviation, aiming to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.