Islamabad : MNN
Under the personal interest and patronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in cooperation in the agriculture and food security sectors.
A high-level Saudi delegation, led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley, visited Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026.
During the visit, extensive discussions were held between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on expanding cooperation in agriculture, food security, investment and agricultural trade.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
Following the talks, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement on strengthening their partnership in agriculture and food security.
The two sides have set a joint target of increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to 3 billion US dollars within the next two years.
Rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies have been identified as priority areas for cooperation.
According to the joint statement, Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice to Saudi Arabia in 2025, with exports valued at approximately 163 million US dollars.
The Saudi side expressed interest in further increasing bilateral rice trade in the coming years.
In the red meat sector, Pakistan currently supplies approximately 30,000 tonnes of red meat to Saudi Arabia annually, worth around 167 million US dollars.
The Saudi delegation expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan.
Both sides also identified significant potential for increasing Pakistan’s share in the Saudi market for fruits and fruit concentrates.
The two countries agreed to encourage stronger business-to-business linkages, matchmaking between the private sectors and steps toward mutual recognition of quality certifications.
Saudi Arabia also identified green fodder as a promising area for expanded trade and long-term supply partnerships.
Both sides welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in a proposed second phase aimed at supporting small-scale farmers.
The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, an initiative welcomed by the Pakistani side.
The two sides reviewed investment proposals from Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain and agreed to continue coordination on these opportunities.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership and welcomed an invitation for Pakistan to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the visit and agreed to maintain close coordination to translate these understandings into practical cooperation.
