Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to finalize MoUs signed during crown prince’s 2019 visit

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Pakistan's information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb pictured during a meeting at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Islamabad on October 19, 2022. (Twitter/KSAembassyPK)
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Updated 20 October 2022
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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to finalize MoUs signed during crown prince’s 2019 visit

  • MoUs worth $20 billion in energy, petrochemicals, minerals and other sectors were signed in 2019
  • Another MoU was signed earlier this year to cooperate in the field of environmental preservation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to finalize memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between them, an official statement announced on Wednesday, while deciding to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of film and media.

The two countries signed several MoUs worth $20 billion in energy, petrochemicals, minerals and other economic sectors during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Islamabad in February 2019.

They also wrote another MoU earlier this year to cooperate in the field of environmental preservation.

According to the statement circulated after a meeting between Pakistan’s information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Saudi envoy Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields.

“It was decided in the meeting that working will be done to finalize the MoUs between the two countries,” the statement said. “It was also considered to further intensify the ongoing cooperation in the media and film sectors.”

The Pakistani minister and Saudi envoy agreed to constitute a committee comprising representatives from the two states to implement the Saudi-Pak joint ventures in the fields of film and drama production.

The information minister appreciated the Saudi ambassador for visiting flood-affected areas. She also praised him for playing a vital role in the relief activities to help displaced families in different parts of the country.

The Saudi envoy expressed his grief over the loss of life and property during the recent rains and floods while saying the kingdom would continue to provide relief assistance to Pakistan.

Al-Malki also mentioned the Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia who, he said, were significantly contributing to the development of the kingdom.


Pakistan confers second-highest civilian award on Saudi commerce minister for strengthening ties

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Pakistan confers second-highest civilian award on Saudi commerce minister for strengthening ties

  • Pakistan’s Ambassador Ahmad Farooq confers Hilal-e-Pakistan award on Saudi Commerce Minister Majid Al-Kassabi in Riyadh
  • Award reflects depth of longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between both nations, says Saudi Press Agency

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq conferred the country’s second-highest civilian award on the Kingdom’s Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi on Sunday for his contribution in strengthening ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, the Pakistan embassy in Saudi Arabia said. 

Farooq conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan award on Al-Kassabi during a meeting between the two in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency confirmed in a report on Sunday. The SPA said they also discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade relations during their meeting.

“On behalf of President of Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq, conferred Hilal-e-Pakistan on Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, Minister of Commerce of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening Pakistan, Saudi Arabia relations,” the Pakistan embassy in Saudi Arabia wrote on X. 

“The award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan, serving as an impetus to further strengthen joint cooperation for the benefit of both countries and their peoples,” the SPA said. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial ties that date back decades and span cooperation in several sectors such as defense, trade, economy, agriculture, livestock and minerals.

Saudi Arabia is the largest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan, with over two million Pakistani expats residing in the Kingdom. Riyadh has also helped bail Pakistan out of several economic crises over the years, providing it oil on deferred payments and loans in critical times. 

The two countries also signed a landmark strategic partnership agreement in September 2025, according to which an act of aggression against one country will be seen as an attack on both.