A high-level business delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by the Chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, has arrived in Islamabad for a series of strategic meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan).
This high-profile visit comes at a time when Pakistan has formed an 18-member committee to steer economic engagements with the Kingdom, marking a renewed phase of collaboration between the two countries. The visit follows last month’s signing of a mutual defence agreement between Islamabad and Riyadh, reinforcing their strategic and economic partnership.
According to the Foreign Office, the Saudi delegation will engage with Pakistan’s political and business leadership, including senior government officials, chambers of commerce, and major private sector stakeholders. The agenda includes exploring potential investments, trade facilitation measures, and identifying key sectors where Saudi participation can accelerate Pakistan’s economic growth.
The visit is part of a broader framework under the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council and reflects the commitment of both nations to deepen their economic ties. Discussions are expected to focus on aligning future collaboration with Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s own growth objectives, which prioritize infrastructure development, energy security, and industrial expansion.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share a long-standing relationship built on shared economic interests, strategic cooperation, and religious ties. Riyadh has historically been one of Islamabad’s largest partners in energy and financial support. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia signed a $1.2 billion deferred oil payment facility, disbursing $100 million per month until February 2026, providing Pakistan with critical support to manage its energy needs and foreign exchange reserves.
Pakistan is also pursuing the rollover of $5 billion in Saudi loans, with $2 billion maturing in December 2025 and $3 billion in June 2026, at a concessional four percent interest rate. These financial arrangements are central to Islamabad’s economic stability strategy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously described Saudi Arabia as “central to Pakistan’s economy” during his meeting with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. Both countries have since discussed various investment opportunities, including in petrochemicals, infrastructure, and state-owned enterprises.
Riyadh has also expressed interest in Pakistan’s mining sector, particularly in acquiring part of the government’s stake in the multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper mine, one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the world. This investment aligns with Saudi Arabia’s strategy to diversify its economic portfolio and Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign capital for its resource sector.
The arrival of the Saudi delegation is expected to pave the way for several agreements and MoUs in the coming weeks, setting a new trajectory for economic engagement between the two countries. It also reflects Pakistan’s growing emphasis on securing long-term strategic partnerships to stabilize its economy and attract foreign investment across priority sectors.
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