Overview
- Leaders of Pakistan and the Maldives agreed to fast-track air and maritime links during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the Civil Aviation Authority to expedite a feasibility study for direct flights.
- Maldivian’s national carrier has signaled it plans a Malé–Karachi service while Pakistan’s CAA will consider Pakistan International Airlines and other operators before approving routes.
- The two governments set an ambitious target to raise bilateral trade to $200 million within two years and signed multiple memorandums of understanding at a Pakistan–Maldives Business Forum to support that goal.
- Pakistan will send a government and business delegation to Malé within a week and the CAA will invite Maldivian counterparts to finalize technical and regulatory arrangements required to launch services.
- Practical hurdles remain because no regular flights have started yet and progress will depend on CAA approvals, bilateral aviation agreements, carrier commercial viability, and parallel measures such as shipping schedules, cold‑chain logistics and visa facilitation.