Pakistan offers to send more doctors to Maldives if needed

Pakistan has offered to send additional doctors and healthcare professionals to the Maldives if required, with more than 250 Pakistani doctors currently working in the country's healthcare sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday.

Speaking during a joint statement with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on an official visit to Pakistan at Sharif's invitation, the Pakistani Prime Minister said his country was prepared to expand its support for healthcare services in the Maldives.

Sharif noted that Pakistan has been a destination for Maldivian students pursuing higher education, particularly in medical colleges and universities.

He said more than 250 Pakistani doctors are currently providing medical services in Malé and other parts of the Maldives.

"Pakistani doctors will continue to provide their services to the Maldives in the future. As a brotherly nation, we are also prepared to send additional healthcare professionals to the Maldives whenever they are needed," Sharif said.

The Prime Minister also announced that Pakistan would donate 100,000 seeds of various tree species and 100,000 olive cuttings to support the Maldives' Five Million Trees Programme.

He said Pakistan was prepared to provide technical assistance for development projects and initiatives arising from the agreements signed between the two countries during President Muizzu's visit.

The Maldives and Pakistan signed 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation across several sectors.

These included an MoU concerning the employment of healthcare professionals and an agreement on cooperation in healthcare services.

The agreements also cover areas including defence, education, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, trade and technology.

During the joint statement, Sharif announced that the two countries had agreed to increase bilateral trade to USD 200 million within the next two years.

He said trade between the Maldives and Pakistan currently stood at USD 13.9 million, despite the two countries maintaining diplomatic relations for 60 years.

President Muizzu's visit marks the first official visit to Pakistan by a Maldivian President in 11 years.