President Muizzu and First Lady arrive in Pakistan on official visit

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has arrived in Pakistan on an official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. He was received at the airport tonight by a senior delegation of the Pakistani government, and a 21-gun salute was fired in his honour. The President's Office said First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, several Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament and a senior government delegation are accompanying the President. During the visit, which will continue until Thursday, President Muizzu is scheduled to meet Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Official talks between the two leaders will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, and the leaders will preside over a ceremony to exchange a number of Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation in various fields. President's Office senior spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) said a business forum with 300 participants will also be held during the visit. According to Pakistani outlet Samma News, around 12 agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the agreements cover trade and investment, health, education, climate change, tourism, civil aviation, and defence and military cooperation. The visit is the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 10 years. The previous visit was in 2015, by then-President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. It comes as the Maldives and Pakistan mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established on 26 July 1966.