Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan is preparing to announce new economic initiatives with Saudi Arabia during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Riyadh expected by the end of October.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, in conversation with Arab News revealed that the defense agreement has created momentum and new joint economic ventures are on their way.
Last month, both countries signed a landmark defense pact, agreeing that aggression against one would be treated as aggression against both. The pact has accelerated collaboration across trade, investment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
A Pakistani delegation, including ministers and officials, recently visited Saudi Arabia to finalize details of an economic cooperation framework ahead of Sharif’s trip.
The upcoming announcements are expected to identify priority sectors of engagement and establish concrete targets for bilateral cooperation.
Read More: Pakistani Envoy Hails the Defense Pact With Saudi Arabia
Agriculture is emerging as a central pillar in the envisioned partnership. Saudi counterparts have expressed strong interest in Pakistani agricultural products and farm-based initiatives.
For its part, Pakistan hopes to attract Saudi investment in livestock, agri‑processing, contract farming, and related value chains.
Among the products cited are rice, meat, corn, sesame, and even dried camel milk; the latter already being exported by one Pakistani firm to markets such as China and the United States.
In addition, Pakistan plans to leverage the second phase of CPEC (China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor) to drive an “agricultural transformation.” This phase will emphasize technology transfer, rural infrastructure, and training of farmers.
To modernize decision‑making, Pakistan is also collaborating with China to deploy advanced satellite systems and data collection tools, improving real-time crop and yield projections.
Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Mutual Defense Pact, Following Israel’s Attack on Qatar
Hussain said that timelines have already been sketched for rolling out different project milestones between early October and December 2025.
While full details of the economic framework will be revealed during Sharif’s visit, Hussain underscored that cooperation would not be limited to agriculture.
While Pakistan’s focus rests on diversifying investment and creating ground for stable economic growth, without external assistance from financing institutions, the defense pact signed between the two seems to tilt more in favor of Saudi Arab.
However, analysts note that as long as Pakistan manages to secure favorable economic outcomes for itself, the bilateral relationship will still be a win-win for both countries.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
