Pakistan, Saudia target $3b agri-food export goal
Saudi delegation expressed interest in further increasing import of rice from Pakistan, says joint statement
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spearheaded a major breakthrough in Pakistan-Saudi Arabia agricultural cooperation following high-level bilateral negotiations in Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. Driven by the Prime Minister’s personal initiative, the successful talks between Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture His Excellency Engineer Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research His Excellency Rana Tanveer Hussain culminated in a comprehensive Joint Statement aimed at elevating food security and trade partnerships.
The Saudi delegation, which included key officials from the General Food Security Authority and related institutions, met directly with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss strategic collaboration. The Pakistani delegation featured Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, National Food Security Secretary Amir Ali Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Agriculture Ahmad Umair, and key leaders from Pakistan’s private sector across the rice, red meat, processed food, fruit concentrate, and green fodder industries.
During the three-day visit, the delegation received briefings on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan, held sessions with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation, and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agribusiness Forum, and visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).
Reaffirming fraternal ties established in 1947, both nations highlighted the strong alignment between Saudi Vision 2030 food security goals and Pakistan’s agricultural export capabilities. The two countries set a target to increase Pakistan’s agri-food exports to Saudi Arabia to USD 3 billion over the next two years. Priority focus areas include rice, red meat, fruits, green fodder, and water-efficient farming technologies.
Trade data reviewed during the summit highlighted that Pakistan supplied 169,000 metric tons of rice worth USD 163 million to Saudi Arabia in 2025, with Saudi Arabia seeking to expand these volumes further. In red meat, where Pakistan currently supplies 30,000 metric tons annually valued at USD 167 million, the Saudi delegation expressed interest in doubling imports.
Both sides also agreed to boost Pakistani fruit exports through business matchmaking and mutual recognition of quality standards. Saudi Arabia recognized green fodder as a high-potential trade sector, celebrated the completion of Phase I of a water-efficient irrigation project in Bhakkar, Punjab, and invited Pakistan to join both Phase II for smallholders and the International Dates Council.
Finally, both nations agreed to pursue private sector investment opportunities in livestock and food processing, while Pakistan accepted an invitation to attend the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.
