Pakistan, Maldives agree to strengthen cooperation

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif believes Pakistan and Maldives need to benefit from the opportunities available for promotion of bilateral trade.

He was talking to the Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Mamoun in Islamabad on Thursday. Nawaz Sharif said the two countries should also work to promote tourism.

Prime Minister said Pakistan will extend all possible help to neighbouring countries against terrorism. He said Anti-terrorism Operation Zarb-e-Azb has been progressing successfully since its launch.

The Maldives Foreign Minister said her country is thankful for Pakistan’s cooperation in various fields.

The visiting Foreign Minister of Maldives also met Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Both Sides expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of their brotherly relations and agreed to maintain the momentum.

The Adviser observed that the tourism industry of Maldives has been growing and Pakistan would like to develop cooperation in this sector. He said that the development of shipping lines between the two countries holds a lot of importance and efforts should be made for the purpose.

The Adviser emphasized the need to follow up on the agreements in the fields of Sports, Health, Education, and Narcotics, which were signed during the visit of the President of the Maldives to Pakistan in May 2015.

Foreign Minister of Maldives stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral relations by promoting people to people contacts. She felt that exchange of students, artists, and other professionals will foster good will among the people of the two countries.