LAHORE: In a significant development following the recent defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, both countries have initiated urgent efforts to elevate bilateral trade and economic cooperation to unprecedented levels.
According to well-placed sources, a high-powered delegation comprising some of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent businessmen and industrialists is scheduled to visit Pakistan next month.
The visit is being organised by Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as part of a broader initiative to deepen economic engagement with the Kingdom.
In preparation for the upcoming visit, senior officials from the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad held a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) with its President Mian Abu Zar Shad. During the meeting, Saudi Commercial Attaché Naif bin Abdulaziz Al-Harbi announced that the Kingdom will establish a dedicated commercial desk at the LCCI to streamline bilateral trade initiatives and foster business linkages.
Highlighting Pakistan’s untapped economic potential, Al-Harbi emphasised that Saudi Arabia is committed to extending all possible support to enhance trade ties. He also revealed plans to facilitate the direct export of Pakistani goods to Saudi Arabia, eliminating existing third-party channels — particularly through Europe — thus reducing costs and improving efficiency.
“Our aim is to create structured policies that not only strengthen economic cooperation but also enhance people-to-people connections between the two nations,” said Al-Harbi.
Sources further revealed that during the visit, the Saudi delegation will engage in B2B meetings with leading business figures from across Punjab. Special sessions are being planned in collaboration with the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce. There is also a strong possibility that representatives from chambers across the province will be brought together at LCCI to interact with the Saudi business leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Mian Abu Zar Shad stressed the importance of trade over aid. “Pakistan doesn’t need aid — it needs trade,” he remarked. He also proposed reviving the maritime ferry service that operated between the two countries in the 1960s to facilitate movement and boost commerce.
The Saudi delegation’s visit is expected to serve as a catalyst for a new era of economic collaboration, building the strategic defence cooperation recently agreed between Islamabad and Riyadh.
