---
title: 'Islamabad, Riyadh to Sign Agreement on Rohingya Refugees Next Week'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/islamabad-riyadh-to-sign-agreement-on-rohingya-refugees/'
author: 'Minahil Khurshid'
date: '2025-11-20T09:48:01+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Asia'
  - 'Pakistan'
  - 'World'
---

# Islamabad, Riyadh to Sign Agreement on Rohingya Refugees Next Week

**Islamabad(TDI):** Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are set to finalize an agreement next week to resolve the long-standing issue of the legal status of Rohingya Muslim refugees living in Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The matter concerns thousands of Rohingya Muslims who moved from Karachi to Saudi Arabia in the 1960s after being allocated land by then Pakistani ruler Ayub Khan. Their migration followed military operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which forced them to leave their homeland.

For decades, Pakistan had renewed passports for these refugees. However, the process was stopped in 2012, leaving many stateless. Since then, Pakistani and Saudi authorities have been in discussions to regularize their legal status.

The issue was discussed in Islamabad during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, who reviewed bilateral relations and progress on resolving the Rohingya matter.

During their discussions, the Saudi ambassador also expressed deep condolences over the recent terrorist attack in Islamabad and lamented the loss of lives.

**Read More: [Pakistan Urges Safe Return and Justice for Rohingya Muslims, at UNGA](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/pak-urges-safe-return-justice-for-rohingyas/)**

Both officials also welcomed strong collaboration on security and interior matters, highlighting the need for ongoing coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made on the Rohingya refugees matter and confirmed that “a formal agreement on this issue will be signed next week in Saudi Arabia.” The Saudi ambassador thanked Pakistan for its “positive role in resolving the matter.”

Karachi remains home to more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims the largest population outside Myanmar and Bangladesh, according to unofficial estimates. 

Most arrived between 1960 and 1980, settling in areas such as Burma Colony and Arkanabad after arduous journeys via Bangladesh and India. Since then, mass migrations have largely stopped due to tighter border controls by India and Pakistan. 

The upcoming agreement is expected to provide clarity and legal recognition for the Rohingya community in Saudi Arabia, offering a long-awaited resolution to a decades-old challenge.