ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ejaz, called on Dr. Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, President of the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) in Riyadh on Wednesday to expand cooperation in the food sector, the Pakistan’s Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.
The officials discussed various facets of cooperation in the food sector between the two countries “Pakistani side also discussed matters concerning the enhancement of food items import from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, including the lifting of long-imposed ban on import of certain categories of shrimps from Pakistan,” it added.
The Pakistan envoy was accompanied by trade attaché Amer Hussain. The meeting was also attended by several SFDA officials, including Mohammad Dahas, the executive director (inspections).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Pakistan in February this year, bringing what was described as a “record investment package” to assist the South Asian country.
Last year, Saudi Arabia pledged a $6 billion aid package for Pakistan to help stave off a balance of payments crisis.
The Saudi government has also agreed to establish a $10 billion oil refinery in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia discuss expanding cooperation in food sector
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia discuss expanding cooperation in food sector
- Pakistan mulls export of food items to Saudi Arabia
- Lifting of long-imposed ban on import of Pakistani shrimps also under consideration
Pakistan highlights economic reforms at Davos, eyes cooperation in AI, IT and minerals
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks at breakfast event in Davos at sidelines of World Economic Forum summit
- Pakistan, rich in gold, copper reserves, has sought cooperation with China, US, Gulf countries in its mineral sector
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s recent economic reforms during the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos on Wednesday, saying that his country was eyeing greater cooperation in mines and minerals, information technology, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence with other states.
The Pakistani prime minister was speaking at the Pakistan Pavilion in Davos on the sidelines of the WEF summit at a breakfast event. Sharif arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday to attend the 56th annual meeting of the WEF, which brings together global business leaders, policymakers and politicians to speak on social, economic and political challenges.
Pakistan has recently undertaken several economic reforms, which include removing subsidies on energy and food, privatization of loss-making state-owned enterprises and expanding its tax base. Islamabad took the measures as part of reforms it agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a financial bailout package.
“We are now into mines and minerals business in a big way,” Sharif said at the event. “We have signed agreements with American companies and Chinese companies.”
Islamabad has sought to attract foreign investment in its critical minerals sector in recent months. In April 2025, Pakistan hosted an international minerals summit where top companies and government officials from the US, Saudi Arabia, China, Türkiye, the UK, Azerbaijan, and other nations attended.
Pakistan is rich in gold, copper and lithium reserves as well as other minerals, yet its mineral sector contributes only 3.2 percent to the countrys GDP and 0.1 percent to global exports, according to official figures.
Sharif said Pakistan has been blessed with infinite natural resources which are buried in its mountains in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and southwestern Balochistan regions.
“But we have now decided to go forward at lightning speed,” he said. “And we are also moving speedily in the field of crypto, AI, IT.”
He said the government’s fiscal and economic measures have reduced inflation from nearly 30 percent a few years ago to single-digit figures, adding that its tax-to-GDP ratio had also increased from 9 to 10.5 percent.
The prime minister admitted Pakistan’s exports face different kinds of challenges collectively, saying the country’s social indicators needed to improve.
“But the way forward is very clear: that Pakistan has to have an export-led growth,” he said.
Sharif will take part in an informal meeting of world leaders this year themed ‘The Importance of Dialogue in a Divided Global Landscape,’ his office said in an earlier statement.
Pakistan’s participation at the WEF comes as Islamabad seeks to sustain recent economic stabilization and attract investment by engaging directly with policymakers, business leaders and international institutions at the annual gathering.
