Punjab is targeting more than $1.8 billion in food exports to Saudi Arabia, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday, seeking an increase in rice, fruit, vegetables and other farm shipments to the Kingdom.
The remarks came during CM Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Rajeh Albugamy, which was focused on bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two brotherly nations.
Strategic Trade Partnership
Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s key trading partners in the Gulf, with food and agricultural exports forming a major component of bilateral trade. Punjab accounts for a significant share of Pakistan’s production of wheat, rice, citrus fruits, vegetables and livestock products, positioning the province as a natural supplier to the Kingdom.
During the meeting, the Punjab chief minister described Saudi Arabia as the largest source of remittances to Pakistan, contributing around $9.8 billion annually, and expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their economic and financial support to Pakistan.
Halal Food Supply Potential
“Punjab can become a reliable supplier of Halal-certified food products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” CM Sharif’s office quoted her as saying at the meeting.
“Discussions were held on leveraging Punjab’s resources and potential to increase exports of livestock, beef, poultry, fruits, and vegetables,” it added.
The push to expand agricultural trade builds on a broader economic cooperation framework agreed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in October last year during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh.
Growing Bilateral Ties
Both countries have enjoyed close relations for decades and have moved to broaden their cooperation in recent years. In 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion across multiple sectors.
During the meeting, CM Sharif strongly condemned Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and expressed regret over the loss of human lives in these assaults.
“The people of Pakistan and Punjab stand shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she said. “Shared economic strength surely guarantees shared security.”
