ISLAMABAD, August 30, 2026: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion over the next two years, ARY News reported.
The agreement came after successful talks held in Islamabad from August 26 to 28. The Pakistani delegation was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, while the Saudi delegation was led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman A. AlFadley. The Saudi visit took place at the special request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed potential areas of cooperation in agriculture and food security.
According to the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit, rice, red meat, fruits, fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-saving agricultural technologies were identified as priority areas for cooperation, with a special focus on collaboration with the Saudi private sector.
The statement noted that Pakistan exported around 169,000 tons of rice to Saudi Arabia in 2025, worth approximately $163 million. The Saudi side expressed interest in further increasing rice imports from Pakistan in the coming years.
The two sides also reviewed Pakistan’s annual supply of about 30,000 tons of red meat to Saudi Arabia, valued at $167 million.
Both countries agreed to enhance business-to-business linkages and direct coordination between the private sectors, and to promote mutual recognition of quality certifications to boost fruit and fruit concentrate exports. Green fodder was also identified as a key sector for expanding trade and building long-term supply partnerships.
The statement welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of the water-saving irrigation program in Bhakkar district, Punjab, and expressed interest in a second phase targeting small farmers.
The Saudi delegation also invited Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, an offer welcomed by the Pakistani side.
Proposals from Pakistan’s private sector for investment in livestock, processing of agricultural and food products, and the rice value chain were also reviewed.
During the visit, the Saudi delegation was briefed on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan. The delegation held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Fauji Foundation and Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri Business Forum, and also visited the National Agricultural Research Centre.
Pakistan also accepted an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition scheduled in Riyadh from October 19 to 22.
Concluding the visit, both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes and agreed to maintain close coordination to translate the agreed areas into practical cooperation.
