PM Shehbaz Urges Stronger Economic Ties with ‘Strategic Partner’ Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for “strategic partners” Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to further strengthen their economic and agriculture cooperation.

Saudi Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Friday, according to an official statement.

Welcoming the Saudi minister, PM Shehbaz highlighted the close and long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He also conveyed his greetings to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The prime minister said the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan had brought the three countries closer and sent a message of unity and peace in the region.

PM Shehbaz said both countries should now focus on increasing economic and agriculture cooperation to turn their strong relationship into a stronger trade and investment partnership.

He welcomed the positive engagement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, especially regarding Pakistan’s agricultural exports to the Kingdom.

“Both sides also exchanged views on enhancing agricultural productivity in Pakistan, through the use of technology, research and development and more efficient use of water resources,” the PMO statement said.

PM Shehbaz also announced that a delegation of Pakistani agricultural experts would soon visit Riyadh to continue discussions and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

The Saudi minister thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, water and food security.