Sunday, August 30

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Make Major Headway in Agriculture, Food Security Cooperation Under PM’s Patronage

ISLAMABAD, 30 August (Kamran Raja): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, following successful talks between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research under the personal interest and patronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. A joint statement on enhancing the agricultural and food security partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was issued following the Saudi delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. The Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley, comprised senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation. The Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and included Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul, Secretary National Food Security and Research Aamir Ali Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, as well as representatives of Pakistan’s private sector from the rice, red meat, processed food and fruit concentrate, and green fodder sectors.During the visit, the Saudi delegation was briefed on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan. The delegation also held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum, besides visiting the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). The two sides reaffirmed the deep, historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which date back to 1947. They highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and food export potential.Both countries expressed a shared commitment to increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion, with efforts to achieve the target over the next two years. In this regard, rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies were identified as priority areas in cooperation with the Saudi private sector. The two sides noted that Pakistan supplied approximately 169,000 tonnes of rice, worth around $163 million, to the Saudi market in 2025. The Saudi delegation expressed interest in further expanding bilateral rice trade between the two countries in the coming years.Regarding red meat, the two sides reviewed Pakistan’s annual supply of approximately 30,000 tonnes, valued at around $167 million. The Saudi side expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan. Regarding fruits and their concentrates, the two sides identified significant potential for increasing Pakistan’s share in the Saudi market. They encouraged measures to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking between private-sector stakeholders, as well as efforts toward mutual recognition of quality certifications. The Saudi side identified green fodder as a promising sector for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships. Both countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in the proposed second phase aimed at supporting small farmers. The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by the Pakistani side. Both sides reviewed investment proposals presented by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain and agreed to maintain coordination and engagement to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas. The two countries also reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership. Pakistan welcomed the invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit and agreed to maintain close coordination to translate the understandings reached into concrete and mutually beneficial initiatives.

ISLAMABAD, 30 August (Kamran Raja): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, following successful talks between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research under the personal interest and patronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. A joint statement on enhancing the agricultural and food security partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was issued following the Saudi delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. The Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley, comprised senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation. The Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and included Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul, Secretary National Food Security and Research Aamir Ali Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, as well as representatives of Pakistan’s private sector from the rice, red meat, processed food and fruit concentrate, and green fodder sectors.

During the visit, the Saudi delegation was briefed on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan. The delegation also held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum, besides visiting the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). The two sides reaffirmed the deep, historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which date back to 1947. They highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and food export potential.Both countries expressed a shared commitment to increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion, with efforts to achieve the target over the next two years. In this regard, rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies were identified as priority areas in cooperation with the Saudi private sector. The two sides noted that Pakistan supplied approximately 169,000 tonnes of rice, worth around $163 million, to the Saudi market in 2025. The Saudi delegation expressed interest in further expanding bilateral rice trade between the two countries in the coming years.

Regarding red meat, the two sides reviewed Pakistan’s annual supply of approximately 30,000 tonnes, valued at around $167 million. The Saudi side expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan. Regarding fruits and their concentrates, the two sides identified significant potential for increasing Pakistan’s share in the Saudi market. They encouraged measures to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking between private-sector stakeholders, as well as efforts toward mutual recognition of quality certifications. The Saudi side identified green fodder as a promising sector for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships. Both countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in the proposed second phase aimed at supporting small farmers. The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by the Pakistani side. Both sides reviewed investment proposals presented by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain and agreed to maintain coordination and engagement to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in these areas. The two countries also reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership. Pakistan welcomed the invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit and agreed to maintain close coordination to translate the understandings reached into concrete and mutually beneficial initiatives.