Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to increase Pakistan’s agri food exports to the Saudi market to $3 billion over the next two years, with rice, red meat, fruits, green fodder and water efficient agricultural technologies identified as priority areas.
The agreement was reached during a visit by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al Fadley to Islamabad from August 26 to August 28. The Saudi delegation held talks with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research and other government and private sector stakeholders.
Rice and Red Meat Set for Major Expansion
Rice is expected to be a major area of expansion. Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice worth approximately $163 million to Saudi Arabia in 2025, and the Saudi side expressed interest in increasing rice imports from Pakistan in the coming years.
Saudi Arabia also wants to gradually double its imports of red meat from Pakistan. Pakistan currently supplies around 30,000 tonnes of red meat to the Saudi market annually, with exports valued at approximately $167 million. The two countries also identified fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water efficient agricultural technologies as areas with significant potential.
Investment, Certification and Upcoming Engagements
The two sides reviewed the Pakistan Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Food Strategic Plan and discussed ways to expand private sector cooperation, agreeing to strengthen business to business links and facilitate investment and trade across the agriculture and food value chains. They also agreed to promote private sector matchmaking and work toward mutual recognition of quality certifications to facilitate trade.
Saudi Arabia expressed particular interest in green fodder as an area for long term supply partnerships. The two sides also welcomed the completion of the first phase of a water efficient irrigation program in Bhakkar, Punjab, and discussed a proposed second phase targeting small farmers. The talks also covered Pakistani private sector investment proposals in livestock, agri food processing and the rice value chain.
Saudi Arabia encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, while Pakistan welcomed an invitation to participate in the Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh from October 19 to 22. The latest agreement builds on growing Saudi interest in Pakistan’s agriculture sector. In February, Saudi Assistant Minister of Investment Ibrahim Al Mubarak visited Islamabad and expressed interest in investing in corporate farming in Pakistan’s rice sector.
Both sides have now agreed to maintain coordination to turn the latest trade and investment commitments into practical projects. Analysts say deepening agricultural ties with Saudi Arabia could provide Pakistani farmers and exporters with a stable, high value market, particularly as Gulf countries continue to prioritize food security through diversified import partnerships. Officials from both sides described the visit as a step toward turning long standing diplomatic ties into concrete commercial outcomes, with future review meetings expected to track progress against the $3 billion target over the two year period. Pakistani agriculture exporters have long viewed Gulf markets as a natural fit given proximity, existing trade relationships and rising demand for halal certified food products, and officials say the latest commitments could help formalize that potential into measurable annual export growth.
The two sides are expected to hold further technical level meetings in the coming months to finalize implementation details, including timelines for the proposed second phase of the Bhakkar irrigation program and the mutual recognition framework for quality certifications. No specific date has yet been announced for the next round of talks. Trade officials on both sides said they remain confident the $3 billion target is achievable given the pace of engagement seen this year. Businesses on both sides are being encouraged to explore joint ventures ahead of the next scheduled review.
