ISLAMABAD, 28 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has brought the three countries closer and conveyed a strong message of unity and peace across the region. The Prime Minister expressed these views during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, who called on him in Islamabad on Friday. Welcoming the Saudi minister and his delegation, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the deep-rooted and fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and conveyed his warm regards to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.PM Shehbaz stressed that as strategic partners,

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should focus their efforts on expanding economic and agricultural cooperation and transforming their longstanding relationship into a stronger and mutually beneficial trade and investment partnership. The two sides discussed enhancing agricultural productivity in Pakistan through modern technology, research and development, and more efficient use of water resources. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over progress in increasing Pakistani agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia and announced that a delegation of Pakistani agricultural experts would soon visit Riyadh to further advance cooperation.The Saudi minister thanked the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, water management and food security. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Atta Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr Musadik Malik, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Dr Syed Tauqir Shah, Bilal Azhar Kiani, SAPM Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials.