Maldives President Receives Guard of Honour at PM House During Historic Pakistan Visit

ISLAMABAD: President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu was presented with a guard of honour at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday as he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the Maldivian president at the formal reception ceremony. The national anthems of Pakistan and the Maldives were played, followed by a guard of honour presented by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Armed Forces, which President Muizzu reviewed.

Following the ceremony, the two leaders introduced their respective delegations before holding one-on-one and delegation-level discussions. President Muizzu also planted a sapling on the lawns of the Prime Minister’s House.

The Maldivian president arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior officials.

This marks the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years and comes as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966.

During his visit, President Muizzu is also scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering various areas of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met President Muizzu and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to its longstanding fraternal ties with the Maldives.

Dar highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism. He also welcomed the participation of a Maldivian business delegation in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum, expressing hope that business-to-business engagements would create new trade and investment opportunities.

President Muizzu thanked Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality, expressing his country’s desire to further strengthen bilateral relations and explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation.