--- title: "Pakistan and Maldives plan direct air connectivity" description: "Most outlets led with the announcement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he had directed the aviation authority to explore or fast-track direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives. Several also noted the involvement of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and the context of a business forum. The framing was largely consistent across the excerpts, with slight variations in emphasis on the speed of implementation and the mention of the event’s setting." url: https://harzaviya.com/stories/15915-direct-flights-between-pakistan-and-maldives-on-the-horizon site: HarZaviya language: en --- # Pakistan and Maldives plan direct air connectivity pakistan · updated 23 Oct 2026, 6:55 PM PKT · 21–23 Oct 2026 · 11 articles from 9 outlets over 3 developments **HarZaviya summary** — how 9 outlets covered this, generated automatically from their headlines and excerpts: > Most outlets reported the agreement between Pakistan and the Maldives to explore direct flights, emphasizing the move as a step to enhance connectivity and tourism. ProPakistani focused on the general agreement to start direct flights, while Dawn highlighted the announcement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum. ## How it developed Newest development first. Each carries its own coverage and, where we have one, our summary of it. ### 23 Oct 2026 — Pakistan plans direct flights between Karachi and Maldives to boost trade (1 outlet) - **Dunya News** — [Pakistan plans direct flights between Karachi and Maldives to boost trade](https://dunyanews.tv/en/Business/979269-pakistan-plans-direct-flights-between-karachi-and-maldives-to-boost-tr) · 23 Oct 2026, 6:55 PM PKT > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to launch direct flights between Karachi and the Maldives as both countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $200 million. ### 22 Oct 2026 — Pakistan and Maldives plan direct air connectivity (7 outlets) > Most outlets led with the announcement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he had directed the aviation authority to explore or fast-track direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives. Several also noted the involvement of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and the context of a business forum. The framing was largely consistent across the excerpts, with slight variations in emphasis on the speed of implementation and the mention of the event’s setting. - **BOL News** — [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issues instructions to launch direct Pakistan-Maldives flights](https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-issues-instructions-to-launch-direct-pakistan-maldives-flights) · 23 Oct 2026, 12:16 PM PKT > PM Shehbaz orders direct Pakistan-Maldives flights, boosting tourism & trade. President Muizzu announces Malé-Karachi service, aiming for $200M trade. - **Daily Times** — [PM directs direct flight between Karachi and Maldives to boost bilateral economic ties](https://dailytimes.com.pk/1571127/pm-directs-direct-flight-between-karachi-and-maldives-to-boost-bilateral-economic-ties/) · 23 Oct 2026, 9:53 AM PKT · 88% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed civil aviation authorities to establish direct flight operations between Karachi and the Maldives. The directive aims to enhance trade, tourism, and people-to-people connectivity between both South Asian nations. During high-level bilateral discussions, Pakistan and the Maldives announced an ambitious goal to expand mutual trade volume from thirteen millio... - **Profit** — [Pakistan, Maldives plan direct flights between Karachi and Male to boost trade, tourism](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/23/pakistan-maldives-plan-direct-flights-between-karachi-and-male-to-boost-trade-tourism) · 23 Oct 2026, 8:07 AM PKT · 77% identical wording to the newest filing > Maldives' national airline intends to launch direct Karachi-Male flights, while Pakistan orders feasibility study for Islamabad-Male route as both countries target $200 million bilateral trade in two years - **Business Recorder** — [PM issues instructions to launch direct Pakistan-Maldives flights](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40445548/pm-issues-instructions-to-launch-direct-pakistan-maldives-flights) · 23 Oct 2026, 5:46 AM PKT · 85% identical wording to the newest filing > ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to expedite a feasibility study for direct flights between Pakistan and Maldives, as Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced plans by his country’s national airline to launch a direct service between Malé and Karachi soon. Addressing the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum alongside Maldivian P... - **Pakistan Today** — [PM orders fast-track plan for direct flights between Pakistan-Maldives](https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/10/23/pm-orders-fast-track-plan-for-direct-flights-between-pakistan-maldives) · 23 Oct 2026, 1:42 AM PKT · 87% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif orders a fast-track feasibility plan for direct Pakistan-Maldives flights as President Mohamed Muizzu announces plans for a Malé-Karachi air link. The two leaders aim to raise bilateral trade from $13 million to $200 million within two years. - **Dawn** — [Direct flights between Pakistan and Maldives on the horizon as PM stresses connectivity](https://www.dawn.com/news/2039036/direct-flights-between-pakistan-and-maldives-on-the-horizon-as-pm-stresses-connectivity) · 22 Oct 2026, 8:37 PM PKT · 85% identical wording to the newest filing > Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that he had issued instructions for direct flights between Pakistan and the Maldives. Addressing the Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum, attended by visiting Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the premier said that once the dignitary returned, a delegation of Pakistani government officials and businessmen would be sent to Malé. He said that ... - **The Express Tribune** — [Pakistan, Maldives move to establish direct air links](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636362/pakistan-maldives-move-to-establish-direct-air-links) · 22 Oct 2026, 4:38 PM PKT · 84% identical wording to the newest filing > PM Shehbaz says aviation ministry directed to explore direct flights between Pakistan and Maldives ### 21 Oct 2026 — Pakistan and Maldives Agree to Start Direct Flights (1 outlet) - **ProPakistani** — [Pakistan and Maldives Agree to Start Direct Flights](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/21/pakistan-and-maldives-agree-to-start-direct-flights/) · 21 Oct 2026, 4:53 PM PKT > Pakistan and the Maldives have agreed to explore direct air links between the two countries to promote tourism and strengthen… Read More ## Part of a bigger story Other stories whose coverage resembles this one, nearest first. "% related" compares whole stories, not single articles — see [what the percentages mean](https://harzaviya.com/methodology). - [Pakistan seeks to expand economic ties with Maldives](https://harzaviya.com/stories/15046-maldives-president-muizzu-to-arrive-in-pakistan-on-three-day) · 24 Oct 2026 · 20 outlets · 7 developments · 84% related - [PIA plans direct flights to Maldives after adding new aircraft](https://harzaviya.com/stories/10176-pia-plans-direct-flights-to-maldives-once-new-aircraft-join) · 24 Sep 2026 · 6 outlets · 83% related - [Pakistan and Maldives leaders discuss bilateral cooperation](https://harzaviya.com/stories/15614-dar-meets-maldives-president-calls-for-stronger-bilateral) · 22 Oct 2026 · 4 outlets · 2 developments · 77% related - [Pakistan and US discuss direct air connectivity](https://harzaviya.com/stories/3928-pakistan-us-direct-flights-move-closer-after-high-level) · 19 Aug 2026 · 2 outlets · 72% related - [Zardari calls for stronger economic ties with Maldives](https://harzaviya.com/stories/15798-zardari-calls-for-stronger-trade-investment-ties) · 22 Oct 2026 · 2 outlets · 71% related 11 articles from 9 outlets, 21–23 Oct 2026. Headlines and links belong to their outlets — HarZaviya links out and never copies article text. --- HarZaviya compares how Pakistani outlets cover the same story. It stores and shows each outlet's headline and a short excerpt, and links out — it never copies article text, and every headline belongs to the outlet that wrote it. It takes no stance on any outlet. Pages: [Top stories](https://harzaviya.com/) · [Latest headlines](https://harzaviya.com/feed) · [Archive](https://harzaviya.com/archive) · [Why](https://harzaviya.com/why) · [Sources](https://harzaviya.com/sources) · [Methodology](https://harzaviya.com/methodology) · [About](https://harzaviya.com/about) · [About the bot](https://harzaviya.com/about-bot) Trackers: [Gold prices](https://harzaviya.com/gold-prices) · [Fuel prices](https://harzaviya.com/fuel-prices) · [Stock exchange](https://harzaviya.com/stock-exchange) Any page on this site is available as markdown: send `Accept: text/markdown`, or add `.md` to the path.