Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are to enhance cooperation in all areas, with a particular focus on the energy and agricultural sectors, according to sources.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met in Riyadh on Wednesday for bilateral discussions.
“We give utmost importance to our brotherly ties with the Kingdom and King Salman has a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis,” Sharif said, adding that the relations remain unshakable.
Sharif is currently on a three-day visit to the Kingdom on an invitation from the king. He arrived at the Royal Terminal at King Khaled International Airport, and was received by King Salman and senior Cabinet ministers.
The other dignitaries present included Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, ministers, members of the royal family, Charge de Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad Yaseen Al-Kalidi and Pakistan Ambassador Manzur Ul Haq and his team. Arab News learned that the meeting was a positive and cordial interaction lasted for an hour at the palace.
Sharif highlighted investment opportunities in Pakistan for Saudi entrepreneurs in energy and agriculture.
The official delegation accompanying the visiting premier included the Minister of Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister of Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Irfan Siddiqui, special adviser to the premier, and a number of senior officials. King Salman hosted a lunch in honor of the visiting premier at his palace.
Saudi Arabia is home to more than 1.7 million Pakistanis whose remittances contribute substantially to the Pakistan economy. The annual trade volume between the two countries exceeds SR16.8 billion. Some 160,000 Haj pilgrims and more than 200,000 Umrah pilgrims arrive here every year.
The talks were attended by various officials including Prince Saud Al-Faisal, minister of foreign affairs; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, minister of the National Guard; Prince Mohammed bin Salman, minister of defense, president of the Royal Court, and special adviser to the king; Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf; Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi and Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Khalid.
Sharif arrived in Jeddah later from where he is expected to go for Umrah on Thursday and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before his departure to Islamabad on Friday after Juma prayer.
Saudi-Pakistani ties unshakable
Saudi-Pakistani ties unshakable
Saudi Arabia led green building performance regionally in 2025: Report
- Saudi Arabia achieved the highest regional score of 76.31 points and certified more than 1.03 million sq. meters of sustainable building space
- Results reflect measurable efficiency gains across 6,662 projects completed since 2010, marking a new regional benchmark for measurable sustainability progress
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia led the region in sustainable building performance and environmental impact in 2025, according to the Saaf index developed by the Saudi Green Building Forum.
Saudi Arabia achieved the highest regional score of 76.31 points and certified more than 1.03 million sq. meters of sustainable building space, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
These results reflect measurable efficiency gains across 6,662 projects completed since 2010, marking a new regional benchmark for measurable sustainability progress and institutional excellence.
The achievement underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in advancing sustainable construction across the Middle East and supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives for cleaner growth, resource efficiency and climate resilience through data‑driven environmental performance.
Faisal Al‑Fadl, secretary‑general of SGBF, said that 2025 represented a major turning point toward a measurable, institutional sustainability strategy that united policy, technology and practice.
He added that the approach extended beyond renewable energy, clean water and eco‑friendly materials to embed sustainability in economic planning and public development programs, made possible through integrated efforts with regional governments and public institutions.
The Saaf index provides a specialized regional framework for measuring efficiency and resilience through the Sufficiency and Resilience Composite Index, or SCI, enabling precise performance assessments.
Findings show that the sector has evolved into a cohesive strategy integrating project delivery, professional capacity building, market innovation and climate action.
According to the SGBF review, Saudi Arabia’s achievements reflect its ability to combine quality implementation, institutional maturity and scale.
Environmentally, green building projects achieved an estimated 62,800 tonnes of carbon‑equivalent annual reduction and earned 29 professional recognitions, reinforcing growing international acknowledgment of Saudi leadership in sustainability.
The data also underscore SGBF’s role as a professional partner in advancing methodologies, applications and impact measurement within non‑governmental frameworks that link policy and practical execution.
More than 7,300 professionals across 22 Arab countries engaged with the Saaf platform in 2025, alongside numerous business‑driven initiatives expanding the region’s sustainable‑development footprint.
Al‑Fadl said that the period from 2025 to 2026 would act as a bridge toward Vision 2030, strengthening a model in which sustainable buildings were managed by impact, measured through indicators and implemented via lasting partnerships.
SGBF serves as the Kingdom’s leading platform for advancing sustainable construction and green design. It unites experts, innovators and practitioners dedicated to building environmentally responsible and high‑performance structures.
Through continuous education, certification and collaboration, SGBF drives the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s building sector — minimizing environmental impact, promoting resource efficiency and improving overall quality of life for communities nationwide.
