Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a crucial meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, focusing on enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia across key sectors including trade, investment, energy, and defense. The meeting is part of PM Sharif’s four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its economic ties amid ongoing financial challenges.
During the talks, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to a $5 billion investment package aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s foreign reserves and addressing its balance of payments crisis. This follows last year’s agreements worth $2.8 billion, aimed at promoting private sector collaboration. Additionally, both countries are in advanced discussions on Saudi investment in the Reko Diq copper and gold mine, one of the world’s largest untapped resources.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s continued support, highlighting the importance of Saudi investments in Pakistan’s economic recovery. The two leaders also underscored the significance of strengthening defense and security cooperation to address regional challenges.
On the economic front, PM Sharif also held discussions with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, Head of the Joint Task Force for Economic Engagement. The talks centered around expediting Saudi investments in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and technology. Pakistan’s strategic location and investment-friendly policies were highlighted as major attractions for Saudi investors.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening long-term economic ties while emphasizing stronger people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges, and educational collaboration. The meeting concluded with optimism for a more integrated and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.
