ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan will give the Maldives 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species for its drive to plant five million trees, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday, as he offered to share Pakistan’s experience of building data centres with the island nation.
Speaking at a joint press stakeout with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu after delegation-level talks in Islamabad, Shehbaz said: “We have also agreed to support our brotherly country, Maldives, in its efforts to plant 5 million trees. I am very happy to announce our contribution of 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species, to be provided in due course through mutual understanding.”
He said that under the 20 memorandums of understanding and agreements signed earlier in the day, Pakistan was ready to provide technical expertise across the areas of cooperation, and pointed to the Maldives’ plans to build data centres in Malé and elsewhere.
“Pakistan has developed considerable expertise in this field and has established data centres across the country, ranging from half a megawatt to 8.5 megawatts, including one I recently inaugurated alongside Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” Shehbaz said. “Your Excellency, we would be very happy to share our experience and technical capabilities in this regard.”
A $200 million trade target
The two leaders also set a goal of lifting bilateral trade from about $13.9 million to $200 million within two years. “I fully endorse and agree to take our bilateral trade between our two countries from 13 million to 200 million dollars,” Muizzu said, adding that “agreements are meaningful only when they produce results.” Shehbaz said he would personally work with the Maldivian president to turn the memorandums into action.
Muizzu described climate change as “a direct challenge to our security, our development and our future” and welcomed cooperation on conservation, waste management, renewable energy and climate resilience. He also cited expanded medical-college placements for Maldivian students under Pakistan’s Technical Assistance Programme, internships for Maldivian medical graduates, youth and skills exchanges, ongoing talks on direct flights, and the potential of halal and Muslim-friendly tourism. Shehbaz said about 250 Pakistani doctors, along with Pakistani paramedics, were working in the Maldives, and that Pakistan was willing to send more professionals.
‘Water is a red line’
Shehbaz also used the stakeout to restate Pakistan’s position on shared rivers. “Legally binding treaties must be respected, and shared water resources must never be weaponised,” he said, calling water “a red line for Pakistan” and describing any violation as “an act of war”, remarks that come as India continues to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.∎
