Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agree to ramp up Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3bn. The two countries said they had agreed in a joint statement on Sunday. The deal followed successful negotiations between Saudi Arabia’s agriculture ministry and Pakistan’s Ministry of Food Security, an initiative introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Key points
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign pact to boost agri exports to $3bn within 2 years
- Priority sectors identified include rice, red meat, fruits, green fodder and irrigation technology.
- Pakistan exported 169,000 tonnes of rice to Saudi Arabia worth $163 million in 2025
- Saudi Arabia wants to double red meat imports from Pakistan
- Pakistan invited to join International Dates Council and Saudi Agriculture Exhibition
🚨BREAKING: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia aim for $3 billion in agri-food trade within two years. pic.twitter.com/cykqqX0d0C
— The Daily CPEC (@TheDailyCPEC) August 31, 2026
High-level Visit Sets the Stage
A Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, was in Islamabad from August 26 to 28, at the invitation of the Pakistani government. The delegation included senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Food Security Authority, and other relevant bodies.
PM Shehbaz met the delegation on Friday and discussed possible areas of cooperation in detail. Following the meeting, both countries reiterated their commitment to increase Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion over the next two years. To achieve that goal, both sides prioritized rice, red meat, fruits and their concentrates, green fodder, and water-efficient agricultural technologies for cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s private sector.
During the visit, both sides held briefings on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan. They also met with the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Fauji Foundation and Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri-Business Forum. The Saudi delegation also visited the National Agricultural Research Center to see Pakistan’s capacity in agricultural research.
Priority List: Rice and Red Meat Lead
There is a good base for the rice trade to build on. Pakistan’s rice exports to Saudi Arabia in 2025 were about $163 million, or about 169,000 tonnes. The Saudi delegation expressed an interest in expanding this trade further in the coming years.
Red meat looks equally promising. Pakistan exports about 30,000 tonnes of red meat to Saudi Arabia annually, with an export value of around $167 million. The Saudis also expressed interest in seeing these imports grow in stages to double over time.
On fruits and fruit concentrates, both sides pointed out the considerable scope for Pakistan to increase its share in the Saudi market. They agreed to promote stronger business-to-business ties and matchmaking between private sector companies of the two countries, and mutual recognition of quality certifications, which could ease the friction of getting Pakistani products certified for the Saudi market.
Green Fodder & Water Technology Complete Plan
The Saudi delegation identified green fodder as an area with a lot of promise for expanding trade and creating long-term supply partnerships. Meanwhile, both countries welcomed the successful completion of the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation program in Bhakkar district of Punjab. They want to proceed with a proposed second phase, this time aimed specifically at small farmers, to extend the benefits of the program to a group that often has limited access to modern irrigation technology.
The Saudi delegation also invited Pakistan to join the International Dates Council and Pakistan accepted the invitation. Separately, Pakistan has accepted an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, opening new avenues for Pakistani exporters to further expand their presence in the Saudi market.
Investment Proposals Also on the Agenda
Besides trade statistics, both sides also discussed investment proposals from Pakistan’s private sector in the fields of livestock, agri-food processing, and the rice value chain. They agreed to continue coordinating cooperation in these areas going forward.
During the visit, both countries reaffirmed their broader strategic partnership and noted the strong alignment between Saudi Arabia’s food security priorities under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s agricultural and export capacity. Saudi Arabia’s interest in Pakistani agriculture seems to have been simmering for some time. Saudi Assistant Minister of Investment Ibrahim Al-Mubarak visited Islamabad in February and expressed interest in investing in corporate farming in Pakistan’s rice sector.
The Pakistani delegation
Pakistan’s delegation was headed by Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain. It included Food Security Secretary Aamir Ali Ahmed, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, PM’s Coordinator for Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair and representatives of the private sector from Pakistan’s rice, red meat, processed food and fruit concentrate and green fodder sectors. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the results of the visit and agreed to maintain coordination for the translation of these understandings into practical cooperation on the ground in the coming months.
