Saudi delegations bolster strategic, economic, and parliamentary ties with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hosted two high-level Saudi delegations on Wednesday in a series of meetings that underscored the deepening partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh, marking a renewed phase of strategic, economic, and parliamentary cooperation between the two long-standing allies.

The first visit, led by Prince Mansour bin Muhammad bin Saad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council (JBC), focused on strengthening economic linkages and investment collaboration across key sectors. The second delegation, headed by Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighted growing institutional and parliamentary engagement between the two nations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a banquet in honor of the Saudi business delegation led by Prince Mansour, commending the Kingdom’s enduring support for Pakistan and reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to deepening bilateral economic relations, his office said in a statement.

PM Sharif said the visit represented “a formalization of our long-standing brotherly ties,” emphasizing that Saudi Arabia “has always stood by Pakistan through thick and thin” and remains a trusted partner in every era.

Reflecting on his recent visit to Riyadh, the prime minister praised Saudi Arabia’s transformation under the leadership of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, noting that Pakistan “is eager to learn, collaborate, and grow together” with the Kingdom.

“We have gathered with our Saudi brothers to strengthen business ties, promote trade, and explore joint ventures,” he added, underscoring the mutual vision for shared prosperity.

The Saudi–Pakistan Joint Business Council meeting, organized in collaboration with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Ministry of Commerce, brought together leading Saudi investors and Pakistani business leaders, the SIFC said.

Discussions centered on trade, energy, minerals, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure — sectors identified as priorities under Pakistan’s investment-led growth strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.

During the meeting, government officials briefed the Saudi side on Pakistan’s evolving investment climate and recent reforms aimed at ensuring transparency and predictability for investors, the statement added.

The SIFC also hosted a dedicated session detailing sector-specific opportunities, particularly in the energy, mining, real estate, and technology sectors.

Prince Mansour praised Pakistan’s investment facilitation framework and reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to long-term economic engagement, the SIFC said.

The statement quoted Prince Mansour as saying that Pakistan is “an important regional partner with strong potential in agriculture, mining, energy, and technology,” adding that the Saudi–Pakistan Joint Business Council remains one of the most successful bilateral business forums globally.

The Saudi delegation is also scheduled to visit Karachi and Lahore to meet provincial leaders and major business houses, exploring opportunities for joint ventures and public–private partnerships.

Parallel to the business-focused engagements, Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, met Prime Minister Sharif in Islamabad to discuss avenues for closer parliamentary and institutional cooperation, the PMO said.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment to strengthening legislative collaboration and policy dialogue between the two nations’ representative bodies.

Officials described both visits as complementary pillars of a broader effort to transform Pakistan–Saudi relations into a multidimensional partnership encompassing economic, institutional, and strategic cooperation.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also received Prince Mansour and his delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign office said, expressed satisfaction at the “growing momentum in bilateral economic relations” and reaffirmed Islamabad’s readiness to facilitate Saudi investments.

This week’s engagements mark a significant milestone in the evolving partnership between Riyadh and Islamabad, aligning Pakistan’s development agenda with Saudi Arabia's transformative vision for economic diversification.

As the two delegations concluded their engagements in Islamabad, both sides reaffirmed their shared resolve to translate historic fraternal ties into a future-oriented economic partnership.