Pakistan-Saudi Arabia: Agricultural exports target set at $3 billion

The agreement followed a three-day visit by a high-level Saudi delegation to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng Abdulrahman A. Alfadley. The delegation held discussions with Pakistani officials and private-sector representatives on expanding trade and investment in agriculture and food security.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral economic cooperation.

The two countries identified rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies as key sectors for expanding trade, particularly through partnerships between their private sectors.

Pakistan exported around 169,000 tonnes of rice worth $163 million to Saudi Arabia in 2025. Saudi authorities expressed interest in increasing rice imports from Pakistan.

The two sides also reviewed Pakistan’s annual red meat exports of about 30,000 tonnes, valued at approximately $167 million. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in gradually doubling its imports of Pakistani red meat.

Both countries agreed to facilitate business-to-business connections in the fruit and fruit-concentrate sectors and encouraged mutual recognition of quality certifications to support trade.

Green fodder also emerged as a potential area for long-term supply partnerships between Pakistani exporters and Saudi buyers.

The countries welcomed the completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in expanding the initiative to benefit small farmers.

Saudi Arabia also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by Islamabad.

The Saudi delegation reviewed investment proposals from Pakistan’s private sector covering livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain. Both sides agreed to maintain coordination to advance the proposed projects.

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During the visit, the delegation also toured the National Agricultural Research Centre and held meetings with officials from the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri Business Forum.

The two countries reaffirmed their longstanding strategic and fraternal ties and highlighted the potential alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food-security priorities and Pakistan’s agricultural production and export capacity.

Pakistan has also been invited to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the talks and agreed to continue coordination to turn the agreements into practical trade and investment opportunities.