President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced today that flights by the national airline between the Maldives and Pakistan's Karachi will commence very soon.
He made the announcement at the Maldives Business Forum currently underway in Islamabad, specifically held for Pakistani businesspeople.
During President Muizzu's visit at the invitation of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 20 MOUs were signed yesterday. Among these, one of the most key MOUs relates to the resumption of air travel between the Maldives and Pakistan.
President Muizzu stated today that with the commencement of Maldivian airline flights between the Maldives and Karachi, travel between the two countries will become easier, opening new opportunities in trade and tourism sectors.
At the Business Forum, which was also attended by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Muizzu noted that both leaders have agreed to increase the volume of trade transactions between the Maldives and Pakistan from 13 million dollars to 200 million dollars.
The President stated that these are not merely numbers, and that the target is to bring investments for the citizens of both nations.
"We are providing businesspeople of both countries not just new opportunities. Because of this, prosperity will increase in this region, and stability will also increase," President Muizzu said.
He stated that he views the business opportunities between the Maldives and Pakistan very favorably. He noted that the strength to assist each other exists within the economies of both countries, and that regarding the Maldives, food security is not viewed solely from a commercial perspective.
"Because the Maldives is an island nation, having a robust system to obtain uninterrupted food supply is something connected to national security. And at the same time, our market should not be viewed as a small market," the President said.
Speaking at the heavily attended forum, President Muizzu stated that the Maldives is not merely a market of five hundred thousand citizens. He highlighted that over two million tourists visit the Maldives each year.
"We currently receive services from Pakistan in the agricultural sector as well. But that trade also needs to expand further," the President said.
He then stated that he welcomes working jointly with Pakistan in the areas of cold-chain logistics systems, temperature-controlled warehouses, safe food preparation, and climate-resilient agricultural technology.
However, President Muizzu stated that alongside this, transport connectivity is what is needed next to advance trade between both nations.
"Therefore, I encourage the shipping port and logistics companies of both nations to establish direct and commercially profitable transport links between the Maldives and Pakistan," the President said.
"Along with that, I encourage airlines, aviation authorities, and private businesses to start direct flights between the two countries and increase the number of air travels," President Muizzu said.
President Muizzu arrived in Pakistan on his state visit last Tuesday night. During the two-day visit, he met with President Asif Ali Zardari in addition to Prime Minister Shehbaz. Official talks between the two countries were also held.
This marks the first visit by a Maldivian President to Pakistan in the past 10 years. Therefore, it is noted that Pakistan treated President Muizzu's visit as a very special and important visit.
