By Eman Alam
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Maldives have agreed to boost their bilateral trade volume from $13 million to $200 million over the next two years, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sha-rif said on Wednesday, as the two countries signed a series of memorandums of under-standing (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.
The agreements were signed during the three-day state visit of Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the first by a president of the island nation to Pakistan in 11 years. The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic rela-tions between the two countries.
PM Shehbaz and President Muizzu witnessed the signing ceremony as representatives of the two sides exchanged the documents.
PM Shehbaz, while addressing a joint presser with the visiting dignitary on the occasion, said efforts to increase bilateral trade would be accelerated, adding that Pakistan would provide technical assistance to the Maldives in the information technology sector.
The agreements cover defence, information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelli-gence, health, education, social protection, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, maritime se-curity and several other areas of bilateral cooperation.
An MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in information technology, cybersecuri-ty, artificial intelligence, digital skills, technology and innovation. The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and the abuse of nar-cotic drugs.
Other agreements covered social protection, health cooperation and collaboration be-tween the Maldives Food and Drug Authority and Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority. The two sides also signed MoUs on the recruitment of health professionals, strengthen-ing defence ties and maritime security cooperation.
To promote agricultural and fisheries cooperation, Pakistan and the Maldives signed separate agreements in these areas.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen technical and vocational education and training, alongside broader educational cooperation.
The agreements further covered youth and sports development, air connectivity, tour-ism, and arts, culture and heritage.
Several MoUs were signed between specific institutions of the two countries, including the Maldives Police Service’s National College of Policy and Law Enforcement and Pa-kistan’s National Police Academy in Islamabad.
Agreements were also signed between the Civil Service Commission of the Maldives and Pakistan’s Federal Public Service Commission, as well as between the Maldivian commission and Pakistan’s Civil Service Academy.
To promote commercial engagement, the Maldives State Trading Organisation and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan signed an MoU on trade in agricultural commodities, food and other products. Another agreement focused on cooperation in the field of en-vironment.
