ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki has acknowledged efforts by the governor of Balochistan to facilitate direct travel from Quetta to the Kingdom following a meeting between the two officials to discuss mobility, investments and regional ties, the governor’s office said on Thursday.

The envoy’s meeting with Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, held in Islamabad, reflects a broader trend of Saudi engagement beyond Pakistan’s federal capital, with Balochistan, a resource-rich but underdeveloped province increasingly seen as strategically important in regional trade and energy corridors.

Both sides discussed “cordial relations between the two brotherly Islamic countries… regional economic and political developments and matters of mutual interest,” the statement from Mandokhail’s office said.

“Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki appreciated Governor Mandokhail’s personal efforts in facilitating direct travel from Quetta to Saudi Arabia for the people of Balochistan,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

While the statement did not elaborate on timelines or agreements regarding direct travel between Quetta and Saudi Arabia, the ambassador’s reported remarks signal interest in easing mobility for religious pilgrims, workers and business travelers from the province, many of whom currently travel via Karachi or Islamabad.

The meeting also underscores growing recognition of Balochistan’s role in Pakistan’s future economic landscape, as well as Saudi Arabia’s intent to broaden the scope of its bilateral engagement beyond federal corridors of power.

Mandokhail, for his part, reaffirmed the strength of bilateral ties. “History bears witness to Saudi Arabia’s special support for Pakistan during every difficult time,” he said, according to the statement.

Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan’s closest diplomatic and economic partners. In recent months, the Kingdom has reaffirmed its intention to invest in large-scale infrastructure, mining, and agricultural projects across Pakistan, including in Balochistan.

Saudi financial assistance has also been critical to Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, particularly during periods of external financing stress.