Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Finalize Agricultural Partnership Details

Talks between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on promoting agricultural and food security partnerships have concluded successfully in Islamabad, culminating in a joint statement. During the visit, the Saudi delegation, led by Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, held detailed discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The visit also included meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation, and the Pakistan-Saudi Agri-Business Forum, as well as a tour of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC).

On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Saudi officials to review and advance the strategic plan aimed at boosting Pakistan's agricultural exports to the Kingdom. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to the previously agreed-upon targets.

Further details have emerged regarding the agricultural cooperation plan, specifying current trade volumes and future targets. In 2025, Pakistan exported 169,000 tonnes of rice worth $163 million to Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom indicating interest in increasing these imports.

Current annual red meat exports from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia stand at nearly 30,000 tonnes, valued at approximately $167 million. Saudi Arabia has expressed an interest in gradually doubling these imports.

To enhance trade in fruits and fruit concentrates, the two nations agreed to strengthen business-to-business contacts and work on mutual recognition of quality certification standards. They are also exploring long-term supply arrangements for green fodder and have welcomed the completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation project in Bhakkar, Punjab.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to a strategic plan to increase Pakistan's agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to $3 billion, with the target to be achieved over the next two years. The agreement was announced in a joint statement on Sunday following a visit by a high-level Saudi delegation to Islamabad from August 26 to 28.

The Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, held talks with Pakistan's food security ministry at the initiative of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the visit, the delegation met with the Prime Minister and held briefings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation, and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum.

The joint statement identified rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies as priority sectors for collaboration with the Saudi private sector.