ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work towards increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom to $3 billion over the next two years, marking a major development in bilateral trade and food-security cooperation.
The agreement was reached during a high-level Saudi delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28. The delegation was led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, while Pakistan’s side was led by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegation and discussed opportunities to expand agricultural cooperation and strengthen trade between the two countries.
Rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies have been identified as priority areas. Both sides also agreed to encourage greater private-sector cooperation, business matchmaking and mutual recognition of quality certifications to facilitate exports.
Pakistan supplied approximately 169,000 tonnes of rice to Saudi Arabia in 2025, valued at around $163 million. Saudi authorities have expressed interest in increasing rice imports from Pakistan in the coming years.
Pakistan also exports around 30,000 tonnes of red meat annually to the Saudi market, worth approximately $167 million. Saudi Arabia has indicated interest in eventually doubling these supplies.
The two countries also discussed investment opportunities in livestock, agricultural processing and rice value chains. Saudi Arabia welcomed cooperation on green fodder and water-efficient farming, while Pakistan welcomed an invitation to participate in the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh in October.
The $3 billion target is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural export sector while supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify and secure food supplies under its Vision 2030 strategy.