Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Asim called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan on Tuesday morning.

In a tweet sent out via its official twitter account at 10:57 am, the foreign ministry said that the purpose of the call was “strengthening ties between the two countries”.

FM Asim arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, on a two-day official visit, according to the Ministry.

He is accompanied by the Additional Secretary at the ministry Ibrahim Shaheeb and Director Aminath Shabeena.

Meeting with his couterpart of Pakistan

The foreign minister met with his counterpart Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, on Monday afternoon.

At the meeting, Asim thanked the minister for the hospitality extended by the Pakistani government, as well as the continued contribution to the development of Maldives.

“Both Minister held fruitful discussion on issues of mutual interest in the areas of bilateral and regional cooperation, among which are cooperation in education, sports, youth and health”, said the Ministry.

In addition, highlighting President Abdulla Yameen’s 2015 state visit to Pakistan, where MoUs were signed on education and health cooperation, Minister Asim discussed ways “of further enhancing sector level talks to effectively implement the MoUs”.

After the meeting, Aziz hosted a luncheon in honour of FM Asim.

Meeting with Maldivian students

On Sunday, Minister Asim met with the Maldivian students in Islamabad, where he inquired about their studies, living conditions and life in the foreign country.

According to the Ministry, the students thanked Asim and the government “for maintaining close relations with Pakistan and facilitating scholarships to Pakistan for Maldivians”.

During both meetings, Minister Asim was accompanied by Ambassador of Maldives to Pakistan, Ahmed Saleem; Additional Secretary at the Ministry, Ibrahim Shaheeb; Director Aminath Shabeena and First Secretary at the Embassy of Maldives in Pakistan, Ahmed Mujthaba.