Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will sign bilateral agreements with the Maldives during his visit to take part in the Independence Day celebrations this year, stated the President’s Office on Monday.
Accepting President Abdulla Yameen’s invitation, PM Nawaz is to stay three days in the Maldives during which he will also hold official talks regarding the two South Asian allies with the president.
In its statement, the President’s Office noted that the Maldives and Pakistan have long enjoyed friendly relations, sharing the same religious ideology among others. The two nations established diplomatic relations on July 26, 1966, exactly a year after the Maldives gained independence from the British protectorate.
PM Nawaz Sharif had accepted the president’s invitation the last two years as well. However, the prime minister was not able to visit the Maldives in 2015 due to flooding in Pakistan, and then again in 2016 due to his heart surgery.
Following his cancellation, Sri Lankan president Maithipala Sirsena had attended as the Chief Guest of the celebrations in 2015, which marked the Maldives’ 50th Independence Day.
According to the President’s Office, the celebrations and activities of this year’s Independence Day will take place July 26 at 9:00 p.m. at the National Football Stadium in capital Male. The official reception, hosted by President Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim, is to be held the following night at Dharubaaruge convention centre.
President Yameen will also address the nation on the morning of July 26 at 10:00 a.m.
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