Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen economic and agricultural cooperation, with a Pakistani delegation of agricultural experts set to visit Riyadh soon to advance talks on expanding bilateral trade, investment and agricultural ties.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should focus on converting their longstanding strategic partnership into stronger economic relations. He made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.
The two sides discussed ways to expand Pakistani agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia and improve Pakistan’s agricultural productivity through modern technology, research and development and more efficient water management.
Pakistani Agriculture Experts To Visit Riyadh
According to a government press release, the upcoming visit by Pakistani agricultural experts will help advance discussions between the two countries and identify opportunities for greater cooperation.
Pakistan sees Saudi Arabia as an important market for its agricultural products, while Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in strengthening collaboration in agriculture, water management and food security.
The discussions also focused on improving agricultural productivity through technology and research. Better water-use efficiency was highlighted as another area where cooperation could support Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
The Saudi minister reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, water and food security. He also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
Defence Agreement To Support Wider Partnership
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
He said the agreement had brought the three countries closer and conveyed a message of unity and peace across the region.
The prime minister stressed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as strategic partners, should now channel their efforts toward increasing trade and investment alongside their existing defence and diplomatic cooperation.
The government has increasingly focused on strengthening economic relations with Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas that can generate investment, exports and employment opportunities.
Focus On Trade, Investment And Food Security
The meeting reflects a broader effort by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to expand their partnership beyond traditional diplomatic and security relations.
Agriculture remains an important area of cooperation because Pakistan has significant agricultural production capacity, while Saudi Arabia continues to focus on securing reliable food supplies and improving resource efficiency.
Greater cooperation in technology, agricultural research, water management and food security could help Pakistan improve productivity while creating opportunities to increase exports to the Saudi market.
The meeting was attended by several federal ministers, including Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Atta Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr Musadik Malik, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Dr Syed Tauqir Shah and Bilal Azhar Kiyani. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials also participated.