President Yameen Abdul Gayoom has sent heartfelt felicitations to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid khaqan Abbasi, in celebration of Pakistani Republic Day or Yaum-e-Pakistan in Urdu.

Pakistan celebrates this holiday on the 23rd of March annually, following the endorsement of the first Pakistani Constitution in 1956 during the transition to the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" from the "Dominion of Pakistan" and the passing of the Lahore Resolution in 1940.

In the message the president sent to Pakistani President and PM seperately, he based the reason behind the close brotherly ties between both countries on mutual respect and beliefs and expressed his hope that the bonds between both countries would endure for 50 more years.

In his message President Yameen wrote that within the past years, security bonds have strenghthened between both countries and continues to build in traditional and cultural ways. He expressed hope to further nourish existing ties by paving way for betterment opportunities in unity and intends to bring new heights of mutual prosperity for both countries.