Report: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in the agriculture and food security sectors, with both sides agreeing to work towards increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion within the next two years.
The development followed successful talks between Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation.
A Saudi delegation led by Engineer Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley visited Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and other relevant institutions.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and included senior government officials as well as representatives of the private sectors dealing in rice, red meat, processed food, fruit concentrates and green fodder.
According to the joint statement, both sides identified rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies as priority areas for cooperation, particularly in collaboration with the Saudi private sector.
Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice worth approximately $163 million to the Saudi market in 2025. The Saudi side expressed interest in further increasing bilateral rice trade in the coming years.
The two sides also discussed Pakistan’s annual supply of around 30,000 tonnes of red meat worth approximately $167 million to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi delegation expressed interest in gradually doubling imports of red meat from Pakistan.
Both countries highlighted significant potential for increasing Pakistan’s share in the Saudi fruit and fruit concentrate market and encouraged stronger business-to-business linkages, matchmaking and mutual recognition of quality certifications.
Green fodder was also identified as a promising area for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships. Both sides welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in a proposed second phase targeting small-scale farmers.
The two sides also reviewed investment proposals presented by Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain and agreed to maintain coordination to develop these opportunities.
Saudi Arabia invited Pakistan to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the visit and agreed to continue engagement to translate the understandings reached into practical cooperation.
