ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for Maldives on a three-day-long tour on Tuesday (today) at the invitation of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The Maldivian President has invited PM Nawaz as a chief guest during the country’s 52nd Independence Day celebrations, starting on Wednesday (tomorrow), according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister House.

Despite the chaos pertaining to Panamagate case, the prime minister continues all key affairs of the state including crucial foreign policy matters.

Being mutual members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the two will hold official talks, and will sign a number of memoranda of understanding and agreements during the visit for better cooperation, said a statement issued by the foreign office on Monday.

“Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with the Maldives which are characterised by cordiality, mutual respect and commonality of interests,” it added.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz is accompanying the prime minister.

It is pertinent to mention here that, currently the Maldivian army has locked down the country's parliament after the opposition vowed to move ahead on Monday with a vote against the speaker, a key ally of the country’s president.