WNAM REPORT: President Asif Ali Zardari sent congratulations to Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, along with the government and people of the Maldives, on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day.
Zardari noted that this year’s celebration holds added significance, coinciding with the 61st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Maldives — a milestone he said reflects over six decades of friendship, trust, and cooperation between the two nations.
He said Pakistan places great value on its relationship with the Maldives and expressed confidence that the bond between the two countries would continue to strengthen, supporting deeper cooperation and contributing to the peace and prosperity of both peoples.
July 26 marks Maldives Independence Day, commemorating the country’s independence in 1965 after periods under Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence.
The Maldives became a republic in 1968, governed today by an elected People’s Majlis under a presidential system.
The smallest country in South Asia, the Maldives is made up of 26 atolls situated in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India.
Positioned along the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, the islands sit at an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level, making the country the lowest-lying nation in the world and particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago, ranks as Asia’s smallest nation by land area at just 298 sq. km and its second least populous, with roughly 515,000 residents as of 2022.
Despite these challenges, the Maldives is known for its diverse marine and plant life, and its beaches have drawn tourists since the 1970s, forming a key part of the country’s economy.
President Zardari felicitates leadership of the Maldives on Independence Day
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