The Maldives and Pakistan exchanged 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday, covering cooperation in defence, maritime security, healthcare, education, trade, tourism, technology and several other areas.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the exchange of the agreements during President Muizzu’s official visit to Pakistan.
The agreements involve government ministries, regulatory authorities, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and state-owned companies, establishing frameworks for cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
Here is a breakdown of all 20 agreements exchanged between the two countries and what each covers.
1. Information technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence
The Maldives and Pakistan agreed to cooperate in information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital skills, technology and innovation.
The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in digital technology and related fields between the two countries.
2. Combating drug trafficking
The two countries exchanged an MoU on cooperation in combating the illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
The agreement focuses on cooperation against drug-related trafficking and abuse, an area involving law enforcement and cross-border coordination.
3. Social protection
The Maldives and Pakistan signed an MoU on social protection, establishing a framework for cooperation in this area.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar.
4. Health cooperation and medicine regulation
The two countries signed an agreement covering health cooperation and collaboration between the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP).
The agreement brings together broader health cooperation and regulatory collaboration concerning medicines and related products.
5. Recruitment of health professionals
An MoU on the recruitment of health professionals was exchanged between the two countries.
The agreement was exchanged by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Maldivian Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali.
It establishes a basis for cooperation concerning the recruitment of health professionals.
6. Defence cooperation
The Maldives and Pakistan exchanged an MoU on defence cooperation, marking a formal agreement to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in the defence sector.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Defence and National Service Minister Hassan Rasheed and Pakistan’s Federal Secretary of Defence, Lieutenant General (Retired) Mohamed Ali.
7. Maritime security cooperation
The two countries signed a separate MoU on maritime security cooperation.
Distinct from the broader defence agreement, this MoU specifically addresses cooperation in maritime security.
The agreement was exchanged by Pakistan’s Federal Secretary of Defence, Lieutenant General (Retired) Mohamed Ali, and Maldivian Defence and National Service Minister Hassan Rasheed.
8. Agricultural cooperation
The Maldives and Pakistan agreed to cooperate in agriculture under a separate MoU.
The agreement was exchanged by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam.
The MoU establishes a framework for bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.
9. Fisheries cooperation
An MoU on fisheries cooperation was exchanged between the two countries.
The agreement was exchanged by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar, and Maldivian Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed.
The agreement establishes fisheries as a separate area of bilateral cooperation.
10. Technical and vocational education and training
The two countries agreed to collaborate in technical and vocational education and training through an MoU involving Pakistan’s National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
11. Higher education
An agreement was signed between the Maldives’ Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The MoU establishes an institutional framework for cooperation between the two sides in higher education.
It was exchanged by Maldivian Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef and HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.
12. Youth and sports development
The Maldives and Pakistan exchanged an MoU on cooperation in youth and sports development.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sana Ullah Khan.
It establishes youth and sports development as another area for bilateral cooperation.
13. Enhancing air connectivity
The two countries exchanged an MoU on enhancing air connectivity.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed and Pakistan’s Federal Secretary of Defence, Lieutenant General (Retired) Mohamed Ali.
The agreement provides a framework for cooperation aimed at enhancing air connectivity between the Maldives and Pakistan. The announcement does not specify particular new routes or flight schedules.
14. Tourism cooperation
The Maldives and Pakistan signed an MoU on tourism cooperation.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sana Ullah Khan.
The MoU establishes tourism as an area for closer bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
15. Arts, culture and heritage
An MoU on cooperation in arts, culture and heritage was exchanged between the two countries.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
It establishes a framework for cooperation in cultural and heritage-related fields.
16. Police training and law enforcement
The Maldives Police Service’s National College of Policy and Law Enforcement signed an MoU with Pakistan’s National Police Academy in Islamabad.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian High Commissioner to Pakistan Uz. Mohamed Thoha and National Police Academy Commandant Saad A. Bharwana.
The agreement establishes an institutional link between the two countries’ police training institutions.
17. Cooperation between civil service commissions
The Civil Service Commission of the Maldives and Pakistan’s Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) signed an MoU.
The agreement was exchanged by FPSC Chairman Lieutenant General (Retired) Akhtar Nawaz Satti and Maldivian Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two public service institutions.
18. Civil service training
A separate MoU was exchanged between the Civil Service Commission of the Maldives and Pakistan’s Civil Service Academy (CSA).
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations Mohamed Naseer and Civil Service Academy Director General Farhan Aziz Khawaja.
Unlike the agreement with Pakistan’s Federal Public Service Commission, this MoU specifically links the Maldivian commission with Pakistan’s civil service training institution.
19. Trade in agricultural commodities, food and other products
The Maldives’ State Trading Organisation (STO) and Pakistan’s Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) signed an MoU on cooperation in the trade of agricultural commodities, food and other products.
The agreement was exchanged by Maldivian High Commissioner to Pakistan Uz. Mohamed Thoha and TCP Chief Executive Officer Rafeo Bashir Shah.
The MoU establishes a framework for trade cooperation between the two state-linked trading organisations.
20. Environmental cooperation
The final agreement covers cooperation in the field of environment.
It was exchanged by Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood Malik, and Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam.
The MoU establishes environmental cooperation as another component of the bilateral relationship.
What do the 20 MoUs cover?
The agreements span a broad range of government and economic activities, from defence and maritime security to education, healthcare, technology and trade.
Several agreements establish links between specific institutions, including the two countries’ higher education bodies, civil service institutions, police training academies, medicine regulators and state trading organisations.
The exchange of the 20 MoUs formed part of President Muizzu’s official visit to Pakistan and provides a framework for further cooperation across the sectors covered by the agreements.
The President’s visit, taking place from October 20 to 22, marks a significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries as they seek to deepen longstanding ties and expand cooperation across trade, investment, tourism, education, healthcare and technology.
One thought on “What was signed between the Maldives and Pakistan today?”