It was a distinct pleasure to meet with His Excellency President Asif Ali Zardari, @PresOfPakistan, this evening and to attend the gracious State Banquet hosted in our honour. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional warmth and gracious hospitality extended to my wife, my delegation, and me. Our warm and friendly discussions reaffirmed the enduring bonds of brotherhood between the Maldives and Pakistan, rooted in our shared faith, values, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people ties. I am deeply encouraged by our shared commitment to further strengthening this cherished friendship, deepening bilateral cooperation, and advancing our common aspirations for peace, progress, and prosperity.

Thank you Prime Minister and my dear brother @CMShehbaz, for your warm and generous hospitality, as well as the kindness and friendship you have extended to me. I am extremely grateful for the highly productive official talks we had today. We engaged in constructive discussions that lay a solid foundation for strengthening our bilateral ties, as we celebrate 60 years of formal diplomatic relations. We reviewed our longstanding friendship and outlined joint priorities across key sectors, including trade and investment, health and education, environment and tourism, fisheries and agriculture, youth and sports, defence and security, training and capacity-building, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation. I am pleased that we have agreed to take the bilateral trade between our countries from USD 13 million to USD 200 million within the next 2 years. I also thank you for the invaluable donation to our five million tree planting initiative. It is a great honour for me and my country, to have been conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Politics and International Relations by the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI). Today’s exchange of 20 MoUs opens a dynamic new chapter in Maldives-Pakistan relations. I look forward to taking these initiatives forward as we build a stronger, mutually beneficial partnership! 🇲🇻🇵🇰

I am honoured to arrive in Islamabad for my first State Visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, accompanied by my wife and delegation. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Government and the brotherly people of Pakistan for the exceptional warmth and distinguished ceremonial welcome accorded to us. I look forward to fruitful engagements that will further deepen our bilateral relations, strengthen our partnership, and advance the shared aspirations of our two nations. @CMShehbaz

On World Food Day, I wish to recognise the importance of building innovative, sustainable and resilient food systems that ensure access to safe, nutritious and affordable food for all. This year’s theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” reminds us that the choices we make and the investments we undertake today will shape the food security of future generations. By investing in innovation, expanding domestic food production and sustainably managing our natural resources, we can strengthen food security and secure a healthier, more sustainable future for our people. As an island nation, strengthening food security is essential to our national resilience and economic sustainability. We must embrace new technologies, improve local production, support our farmers and fishers, and protect the natural resources that sustain our livelihoods and communities. This Government has taken important steps to strengthen the fisheries sector, including ensuring payments to fishers within 48 hours, expanding fish storage and processing infrastructure, and introducing measures to support our fisheries sector as a whole. We have also advanced agricultural development through public-private partnerships, with projects initiated in various islands as well as encouraging communities to make better use of available land to expand local production, improve access to fresh fruits and create greater opportunities for farmers. We are working to strengthen local food supply chains, improve market access for farmers and fishers, and encourage greater investment in agriculture. By combining innovation with the knowledge and experience of our local producers, we can increase productivity, reduce dependence on imported food and and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of our food supply. Food security is a shared responsibility. By working together to strengthen local food systems and support our farming and fishing communities, we can ensure a reliable supply of nutritious and affordable food for all Maldivians. Let us work together towards a Maldives where our farmers and fishers, and their families, are empowered, local food production continues to grow, and every household has access to nutritious and affordable food.

ދިވެހި ވަޠަނީ ޚިދުމަތުގެ ފަންނީ ތަމްރީނުގެ 3 ވަނަ ބެޗަށް ކުރިމަތިލި 84 ދިވެހި ޒުވާނުން ބ.ކިހާދޫގައި ޤާއިމުކޮށްފައިވާ އެމްއެންޑީއެފް ސުކޫލް އޮފް އިންޖިނިއަރިންގ އެންޑް ލޮޖިސްޓިކްސް އަށް މިއަދު ވަނީ ފުރާފައި. މި ޕްރޮގްރާމުގައި، ރާއްޖޭގެ 17 އަތޮޅެއްގެ 44 ރަށަކަށް ނިސްބަތްވާ 64 ފިރިހެން އަދި 20 އަންހެން ދަރިވަރުން ހިމެނޭ. މި ތަމްރީނުގައި ބައިވެރިވާ ހުރިހާ ބައިވެރިންނަށް ކާމިޔާބީއަށް އެދެން!

This International #DayOfTheGirl, we join the international community in reaffirming our commitment to advancing and protecting the rights of girls around the globe. Our administration is committed to advancing policies and creating opportunities that empower girls and young women to realise their full potential, equip them to become future leaders, and enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development in a safe and supportive environment. Such aspirations require a whole-of-society approach, beginning with families and communities and extending to all relevant stakeholders. Investing in our daughters today is an investment in a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all.