Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work towards raising Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the kingdom to $3 billion over the next two years.
The understanding was reached during a three-day visit to Islamabad by a high-level Saudi delegation headed by Saudi Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng Abdulrahman A Alfadley.
The delegation, which included senior officials from the ministry, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions, visited Pakistan from August 26 to 28 at the government’s invitation.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the visit resulted in significant progress in bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain led the Pakistani side during the discussions, which also involved senior officials and representatives of the private sector.
Under a joint statement issued following the visit, both countries agreed to focus on rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient farming technologies as key areas for expanding trade and investment. Greater involvement of Saudi Arabia’s private sector will also be encouraged.
Pakistan exported around 169,000 tonnes of rice worth $163 million to Saudi Arabia in 2025. Saudi Rabia indicated its interest in increasing imports of Pakistani rice.
The two sides also discussed Pakistan’s annual red meat exports to Saudi Arabia, which currently stand at nearly 30,000 tonnes valued at about $167 million. Saudi Arabia expressed an interest in gradually doubling imports from Pakistan in this category.
To promote trade in fruits and fruit concentrates, both countries agreed to strengthen business-to-business contacts and matchmaking initiatives. They also encouraged efforts to establish mutual recognition of quality certification standards.
Green fodder emerged as another potential area for increased trade, with both sides exploring opportunities to develop long-term supply arrangements.
The countries welcomed the completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation initiative in Bhakkar, Punjab.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also expressed interest in launching a second phase of the programme, with a particular focus on supporting small-scale farmers. Saudi officials encouraged Pakistan to become a member of the International Dates Council, an initiative welcomed by the Pakistani side.
Investment opportunities proposed by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agricultural and food processing, and the rice value chain were also reviewed. Both sides agreed to remain engaged to help move these projects forward.
During the visit, the Saudi delegation toured the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) and held discussions with representatives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri Business Forum. The delegation received detailed briefings on relevant initiatives and investment opportunities.
The joint communique reaffirmed the two countries’ longstanding strategic and fraternal relationship, while highlighting the potential to align Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food-security objectives with Pakistan’s agricultural production and export capabilities.
Saudi Arabia also invited Pakistan to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, which will be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.
Both sides welcomed the results of the Saudi delegation’s visit and agreed to maintain close coordination to turn the understandings reached into concrete agricultural and trade initiatives.
