Karachi, September 26, 2026: A high-level parliamentary delegation of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of Maldives, led by Speaker H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, arrived in Karachi after Islamabad as part of its official visit to Pakistan, where the delegation visited Mazar-e-Quaid and subsequently the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

The Maldivian parliamentary delegation visited Mazar-e-Quaid, where it laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan, and offered Fateha. Secretary Provincial Assembly of Sindh G.M. Umar Farooq and Director General Media Irfan Ahmed Memon also accompanied the delegation.

The Maldivian parliamentary delegation visited the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, where Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah warmly received the delegation. Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh Giyan Chand Essarani, and Members of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh including Tanzila Ume Habiba, Sadia Javed, Sumeta Afzal Syed, Dr. Sikandar Ali Shoro, Jam Shabbir Ali Khan, Syed Farrukh Shah, Muhammad Farooq, Mahesh Kumar, Zubair Ahmed Junejo, Fayyaz Ali Butt, Syed Ejaz Hussain Shah, Adil Altaf Unar and Muhammad Yousuf Baloch were also present on the occasion.

Secretary Provincial Assembly of Sindh G.M. Umar Farooq, Senior Special Secretary Muhammad Hassan Shah and Director General Media Irfan Ahmed Memon were also accompanying Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

Speaker H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla was accompanied by Members of the People’s Majlis including Ibrahim Shujau, Mohamed Shahid, Mohamed Ismail, Husnee Mubarik, Ibrahim Naseem, Mohamed Ali, Mohamed Mamdooh, Hanan Mohamed Rasheed, Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Dawoodh, Hassan Waheed, Ahmed Aifan, Adam Zahir, Hamad Abdulla and Ibrahim Shifaz. Ms. Shaista Khan, MNA and Convener of the Pakistan–Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group, also accompanied the delegation.

The Maldivian parliamentary delegation was briefed by Senior Special Secretary Provincial Assembly of Sindh Muhammad Hassan Shah about the history, evolution and parliamentary significance of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh. A documentary based on the history of Sindh and the Provincial Assembly of Sindh was also screened during the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah welcomed the Maldivian parliamentary delegation and said that this visit was an opportunity to develop a new roadmap for parliamentary relations between Sindh and Maldives.

Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah emphasised the need to enhance parliamentary interaction and cooperation in various fields, including trade, tourism, education, health, youth development and addressing climate change.

Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh highlighted the vast potential for promoting trade and economic cooperation between Sindh and Maldives through Karachi and emphasised the need to further improve air and maritime connectivity. He also proposed the establishment of a Pakistan–Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group at the provincial level to promote regular parliamentary interaction and institutional cooperation.

Speaker People’s Majlis of Maldives H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla thanked the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for its warm hospitality and described the relations between Pakistan and Maldives as longstanding and brotherly. He highlighted the importance of Karachi as a commercial and maritime link between Pakistan and Maldives and stressed the need for direct air and maritime connectivity.

The Maldivian Speaker appreciated Pakistan’s support to Maldives, particularly mentioning the Parliament House gifted by Pakistan to Maldives in 1998, and described it as a lasting symbol of friendship between the two countries.

The Members of the Maldivian parliamentary delegation and Members of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh were introduced to each other.

The delegation was also taken on a tour of the historic Old Assembly House, where it was briefed about the historical and constitutional significance of the building. The delegation also visited the New Assembly House, where it was briefed about the present-day parliamentary affairs and procedures of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

A luncheon was hosted in honour of the Maldivian parliamentary delegation at the Assembly Lobby by Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah.

At the conclusion of the visit, Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah presented commemorative shields, Sindhi caps, Ajraks and books on the history of Sindh and the Provincial Assembly of Sindh to Speaker People’s Majlis of Maldives H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla and members of the delegation. 

Speaker People’s Majlis of Maldives H.E. Abdul Raheem Abdulla thanked Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah for hosting the delegation and for the warm hospitality extended to them.