Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in Pakistan 20 to 22 October, the first Maldivian state visit in 11 years

Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will make a state visit to Pakistan from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 October 2026, the Foreign Office announced on Sunday 18 October, Business Recorder reported. It is the first visit to Pakistan by a Maldivian president in eleven years, and he comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Muizzu travels with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, cabinet ministers and senior officials.

What is on the programme

The Foreign Office listed the areas for closer cooperation as trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people contact. The two sides will also discuss regional and international developments. Pakistan and the Maldives set up diplomatic relations in 1966, so the visit falls in the 60th anniversary year; the Foreign Office called the relationship "warm and fraternal", rooted in shared faith.

Why it matters here

• Jobs and study: education and health are on the list. Any agreement on doctors, nurses, teachers or student places would matter to Pakistanis looking for work or study abroad; we will add the details when the MoUs are signed.
• Trade: the business forum is where traders in Karachi and Lahore will look for openings in the Maldives' tourism-led economy. The Foreign Office has given no trade figures.
• Islamabad traffic: state visits usually bring route diversions around the Red Zone and Srinagar Highway, on top of the cricket diversions already in place for the Pakistan tri-series in Rawalpindi. Check Islamabad Traffic Police updates before you travel on 20 October.

Visiting the Maldives yourself? Convert your budget with our currency converter, and check what a new passport costs with the passport fee calculator.

We will update this story with the agreements signed and any announcements from the talks.