President offers congratulations as generational smoking ban, civil service pay hike kicks in

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu offered congratulations to the Maldivian people on Sunday, as three measures implemented by his administration, including a smoking ban on the post-2007 generation, kicked in.

In a post on X in the morning, President Muizzu noted that three measures implemented by his administration took effect on Saturday; a generational smoking ban, a pay bump to the remaining civil servants, as well as judicial and council staff under the national pay harmonization initiative, and the lifting of a ban on gulper shark fisheries – the latter of which has received pushback from environmentalists.

“I take this opportunity to offer sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to and cooperated in making these three things possible,” he wrote.

“And I also congratulate all who will benefit from the implementation of these three things, as well as the Maldivian people in general.”

މިއަދު ނޮވެމްބަރ 1، 2025 ގައި 3 ކަމެއް ތަންފީޒުކުރަން މިވަނީ ފެށިފައި:

1. 2007 ޖެނުއަރީ 1 އިން ފެށިގެން އުފަންވެފައިވާ އަދި އުފަންވާނޭ ހުރިހާ ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ދުންފަތުގެ ޖެނެރޭޝަނަލް ބޭން ތަންފީޒުކުރުން.

2. ކަށި މިޔަރު ބޭނުމުގެ ހުއްދަ މެނޭޖްމަންޓް ޕްލޭނެއްގެ ދަށުން…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 1, 2025

In May, the Maldives wrote in amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, prohibiting both the consumption by and sale of tobacco products to Maldivian citizens born on or after January 1, 2007.

The ban kicked in on Saturday, and is part of larger tobacco control measures implemented by President Muizzu’s administration, which has also seen a blanket ban on ban vapes and e-cigarettes, and doubling of import duty and taxes on cigarettes.

The second measure that kicked in on Saturday has seen the expansion of the national pay harmonization initiative – phased efforts to create a unified and equitable salary structure across various public sector departments, including the civil service, judiciary, police, and defense forces – that was launched during the administration of President Muizzu’s predecessor, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The initiative, which previously resulted in pay bumps for nurses, educators, and security services personnel, has now been expanded to cover the rest of civil servants, as well as judicial staff, and council staff.

President Muizzu has also announced that the salaries of remaining public sector employees would be reviewed next year.

The third measure that kicked in on Saturday is the lifting of a ban on gulper shark fisheries.

The Maldives has a blanket ban on shark fisheries. But in August, President Muizzu announced the decision to lift the ban on gulper sharks.

The decision has been met with pushback from environmentalists. But President Muizzu has stressed the ban is being lifted under a comprehensive management plan to ensure sustainability and regulatory compliance.