Pakistan eyes $3bn in food, agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia over next two years

• Saudi delegation visited Pakistan from August 26 to 28.
• Pakistan welcomes Saudi proposal on dates council.
• Saudi Arabia wants to increase imports of rice.
  

Islamabad and Riyadh have agreed to work towards increasing Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the kingdom to $3 billion within the next two years, as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation in food security and agriculture.

The decision was taken during a visit of a Saudi delegation led by Eng Abdulrahman A Alfadley, Minister forEnvironment, Water and Agriculture. The Saudi delegation comprising senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority and related entities, visited Islamabad from August 26 to 28 at the invitation of the government.

The delegation also called on Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif and "significant progress" in agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was achieved, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Sunday.

The Pakistan side was led by Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, and included senior government officials and private-sector representatives.

According to a joint statement issued after the visit, rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies have been identified as priority areas for expanding trade and investment, particularly through cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s private sector.

Pakistan supplied about 169,000 tonnes of rice worth $163 million to Saudi Arabia in 2025. The Saudi side expressed interest in further increasing import of rice.

The two sides also reviewed Pakistan’s annual exports of around 30,000 tonnes of red meat valued at approximately $167 million. The Saudi side expressed interest in gradually doubling its imports of Pakistani red meat.

Both countries agreed to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking in the fruit and fruit concentrate sectors and encouraged steps towards mutual recognition of quality certifications.

Green fodder was also identified as a promising sector for expanding trade and establishing long-term supply partnerships.

The two sides welcomed the completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in a second phase aimed at small farmers.

The Saudi delegation also encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, a proposal welcomed by Islamabad.

The two sides reviewed investment proposals from Pakistan’s private sector in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain, agreeing to maintain coordination to advance the projects.

The Saudi delegation also visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (Narc) and held meetings with the authorities of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri Business Forum. They were briefed in details.

The joint communique said that both countries reaffirmed their longstanding strategic and fraternal ties and highlighted the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food-security priorities and Pakistan’s agricultural export potential.

Pakistan was also invited to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the visit and agreed to continue coordination to translate the agreements into practical cooperation.