Pakistan, Maldives eye trade and connectivity boost

Acting Senate Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar met Maldivian People's Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah and his parliamentary delegation on Thursday, according to Mettis Global, which cited APP. Discussions ranged over ties between the two countries, parliamentary diplomacy, commerce, investment, schooling, defence, tourism and climate change. National Assembly members, senators and Senate Secretariat officials also took part in the meeting.

Nasar described the relationship as resting on mutual respect, trust, shared interests and Islamic brotherhood, and said Pakistan valued its links with Maldives both bilaterally and through SAARC, the OIC and the UN. He called for more parliamentary exchanges and stronger connections between the two legislatures, saying parliamentary diplomacy could deepen mutual understanding and institutional ties.

On the economy, he argued that the two countries could trade far more and urged quicker flights and shipping links, wider market access and a bigger role for private companies. He also cited Pakistan's export capacity across textiles, rice, cement, meat, produce and medicines, and asked for more places for Maldivian students in fields such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy and dentistry. Climate change, defence training and maritime security were also flagged as areas for joint work, with the Parliament building in Malé cited as a symbol of ties. Abdullah thanked Pakistan for its help and praised its constructive international role, and each side voiced contentment with the current level of collaboration.