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ISLAMABAD: Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan visited Pakistan this week for talks centered on bilateral economic ties and ongoing financial cooperation between the two countries, the Finance Ministry stated Saturday. In an official statement on X (Twitter), the ministry stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb personally escorted his Saudi counterpart to Islamabad International Airport upon his departure on Friday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042824446013247809&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5223%2F&sessionId=34e7eff16c3aa34b759e948f3c58ce11e5be3e0f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><div class="fr-embed"><div> The two ministers had exchanged remarks on the bilateral relationship and the state of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.</div></div> Pakistan&rsquo;s finance minister said he plans to meet Al-Jadaan again on the sidelines of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-to-discuss-reform-progress-during-imf-meetings-in-washington" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings</a>&nbsp;in Washington. The gathering, set for April 13&ndash;18, will bring together central bankers, government ministers and other stakeholders to discuss economic growth, debt and geopolitical shifts. The visit comes as Islamabad is navigating an unusually intense diplomatic calendar. US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf both arrived in the Pakistani capital on Saturday for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/islamabad-talks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan-mediated talks</a>&nbsp;over a ceasefire set to expire on April 22, 2026. Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described those talks as a &quot;make-or-break moment,&quot; a backdrop that lends additional weight to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/five-things-to-know-about-the-planned-iranus-talks-in-islamabad" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Islamabad&#39;s engagements</a>&nbsp;on the economic front with one of its closest Gulf partners.

Pakistan Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, left, talks with Saudi Arabia Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Jadaan during a high-level meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, April 10, 2026. (Ministry of Finance/X)

Economy

Saudi Finance Minister Al-Jadaan met his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad, with both sides planning to follow up at the World Bank Group–IMF Spring Meetings in Washington.

Saudi finance minister holds talks in Pakistan on economic cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to work together for regional peace and stability as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East following the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a restricted meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, where the two leaders reviewed regional developments and bilateral cooperation. The premier was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and&nbsp;Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Syed Asim Munir. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the discussions focused on the evolving security situation in the region and the need for coordinated efforts to maintain stability. &ldquo;Both leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the region and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability,&rdquo; the statement said. During the meeting, PM Sharif conveyed his best wishes to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s longstanding support for Pakistan. The prime minister also reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s solidarity with Riyadh amid the ongoing regional crisis. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed full solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,&rdquo; the PMO said, adding that he assured the crown prince that Pakistan &ldquo;would always stand firmly with Saudi Arabia and strive for their mutual desire for peace in the region.&rdquo; According to an update issued later by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, PM Sharif travelled back to the country after completing his official visit to Saudi Arabia.&nbsp; The high-level talks come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, raising concerns about the security of Gulf states and key global energy routes. The meeting also reflects the deepening strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, formalized through a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement signed during PM Sharif&rsquo;s 2025 visit to Riyadh. Under the agreement, both countries pledged closer defense cooperation and committed to supporting each other in safeguarding regional stability. Military-level coordination between the two allies has also intensified in recent days. CDF Munir visited Saudi Arabia earlier this month and met Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, where both sides discussed the regional security environment and the need for joint efforts to address emerging threats. Officials said the meeting underscored continued strategic coordination between Islamabad and Riyadh as leaders across the region seek to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to review regional developments and strengthen bilateral ties, reaffirming Islamabad’s solidarity with Riyadh and commitment to coordinated efforts for stability.

PM Sharif, Saudi crown prince agree to work together for regional peace amid escalating Iran war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left on Thursday for a brief visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to meet with the crown prince to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. The visit will focus on Pakistan&rsquo;s positive and active role in international diplomacy, and the country will continue to play a constructive role in this regard, the statement read.

PM Shehbaz meets Crown Prince of Saudia (APP)

PM Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional tensions, security, and matters of mutual interest between the two countries.

Pakistan PM to discuss bilateral ties during Saudi Arabia visit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mining and minerals sector, focusing on joint investment opportunities and better collaboration across the entire mineral value chain. This was decided during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2026 in Riyadh. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, leading a Pakistani delegation to the forum, met Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Al-Khorayef to discuss expanding bilateral engagement in mining, critical minerals, and downstream industries.&nbsp;The Saudi minister welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in FMF 2026, noting the growing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-positions-mining-forum-as-economic-priority" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">global focus on mining and critical minerals</a>.&nbsp;He emphasized the strong potential for Pakistan-Saudi cooperation and assured that Saudi Arabia would provide its technical expertise and knowledge resources to help develop Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral industry. He also called Pakistan&rsquo;s young and dynamic workforce a major strength. &nbsp;Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed the strong brotherly ties between the two countries and underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to expanding cooperation in the minerals sector.&nbsp;He said the Geological Survey of Pakistan is working toward collaboration with the Saudi Geological Survey, and emphasized the vast mineral potential of the Tethyan Belt, noting that the Reko Diq project represents only a fraction of Pakistan&rsquo;s resource base. He identified fertilizer production and medical equipment manufacturing as promising areas for joint ventures.&nbsp;The Pakistani delegation includes senior policymakers, heads of state-owned enterprises, private-sector representatives, and leading mining stakeholders, including Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), OGDCL, Mari Energies, GHPL, FWO, PMDC, Saindak Metals, and Balochistan-based mineral companies, as well as specialized service providers.&nbsp;PPL is coordinating Pakistan&#39;s participation in FMF 2026 in partnership with the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division). The theme, &quot;Mineral Marvel &ndash; Unleashing Pakistan&rsquo;s Mineral Revolution,&quot; emphasizes the country&#39;s rich geological resources, prominent mining projects, and investment opportunities. The Pakistan Pavilion will showcase these highlights effectively.&nbsp;Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy welcomed the Pakistani delegation and pledged full support for Pakistan&rsquo;s participation. He praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s presence at the forum would further strengthen longstanding bilateral relations.&nbsp;During a visit to the Pakistan Pavilion, Minister Al-Khorayef commended the Pakistani team, particularly appreciating the pavilion&rsquo;s distinctive design and strong visual impact.

Saudi minister welcomes Pakistan’s participation in Future Minerals Forum 2026, noting the growing global focus on mining and critical minerals.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation in mining

ISLAMABAD: Turkiye is reportedly seeking to join the mutual defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, potentially creating a new trilateral security alignment, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US-based news agency cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter, saying the talks are at an advanced stage and &ldquo;a deal is very likely.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to Bloomberg, Turkiye views joining the pact as a way to strengthen security and deterrence amid questions about the United States&#39; reliability and changing regional dynamics. The report noted that Turkiye&rsquo;s interests increasingly overlap with those of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.&nbsp;The story also referenced comments from Nihat Ali Ozcan, a strategist at Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, who highlighted the combined strengths of the three countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Riyadh brings financial clout, Islamabad its nuclear capability and manpower, while Turkiye contributes military experience and a developed defense industry,&rdquo; Ozcan told Bloomberg.&nbsp;&nbsp;The report added that the expanded alliance could shift regional and global security calculations, particularly as countries seek new mechanisms to identify friends and foes in a changing geopolitical environment.&nbsp;Bloomberg further noted that Turkiye has already been deepening defense ties with both countries, including constructing corvette warships for the Pakistan Navy, upgrading the Pakistan Air Force&rsquo;s F-16s, and sharing drone technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;The outlet added that Turkiye now aims to involve Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in its Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet program.&nbsp;Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pactThe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistansaudi-defense-pact-oozes-with-unknowns" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement</a>&nbsp;was signed in Riyadh in September 2025 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.&nbsp;Under the pact, any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both. The agreement is part of a broader effort to strengthen military and strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh, which also includes economic assistance and energy support.

Bloomberg says Turkiye views joining the pact as a way to strengthen security and deterrence amid questions over the reliability of the United States and changing regional dynamics.

Turkiye joining Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact: Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed &ldquo;complete solidarity&rdquo; with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and urged all parties to maintain regional peace through dialogue during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. PM&nbsp;Sharif and the Saudi&nbsp;crown prince reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. The call followed a statement earlier Wednesday from Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office regarding a resurgence of violence in Yemen. &ldquo;Pakistan expresses complete solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its commitment to the security of the Kingdom,&rdquo; the Foreign Office statement said. Pakistan reiterated its support for Yemen&#39;s unity and territorial integrity and called for a de-escalation of tensions. &ldquo;Pakistan maintains its firm support for the resolution of the Yemen issue through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the statement said. The Foreign Office also expressed hope that Yemen&rsquo;s people and regional powers would work together toward an &ldquo;inclusive and enduring settlement of the issue, safeguarding regional stability.&rdquo;

PM Sharif pledges solidarity with Saudi Arabia, while urging a diplomatic solution in Yemen during a call with the crown prince.

Pakistan expresses ‘solidarity’ with Saudi Arabia, urges regional peace and stability

Staff Reporter

LAHORE: Saudi Arabia has agreed to extend the maturity of its $3 billion deposit placed with the central bank for another year, offering critical support to Pakistan&rsquo;s fragile external account, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday. In a statement, SBP said the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has rolled over the deposit initially due to mature on December 8 for a further 12 months. &ldquo;The extension of the term of the deposit is a continuation of the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which will help strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves and contribute to the country&rsquo;s economic growth and development,&rdquo; the SBP noted. The $3 billion deposit was originally signed in 2021, and later rolled over in 2022, 2023, and 2024, making this the fourth extension.&nbsp; Last week, the SBP reported that its foreign exchange reserves increased slightly by $9 million, reaching $14.560 billion as of the week ending November 21. However, Pakistan&rsquo;s total liquid reserves fell to $19.605 billion, down from $19.738 billion, due to a decline in commercial banks&rsquo; foreign currency holdings, which dropped from $5.186 billion to $5.044 billion. Saudi Arabia has historically been one of Pakistan&rsquo;s most reliable partners, extending support in the form of oil on deferred payments, guarantees for international lenders including the International Monetary Fund, and recurring deposit rollovers to stabilize Pakistan&rsquo;s external sector. With over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates working in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan&rsquo;s largest source of remittances. Following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the FII9 Conference in Riyadh, the two countries strengthened their strategic cooperation after signing a defense pact.&nbsp;

State Bank says deposit’s term extension is a continuation of support provided by Saudi Arabia; will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, contribute to the country’s economic growth and development.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit with Pakistan for another year

ISLAMABAD: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday had a detailed discussion with Saudi Sport Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal on promoting cricket in Saudi Arabia and creating new avenues for youth engagement and talent development. In a post on X, the ACC president, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board, said that he &ldquo;deeply appreciate(s)&rdquo; the way he was driving &ldquo;Crown Prince&rsquo;s Vision 2030&rdquo; and has secured &ldquo;major global events&rdquo; for the Middle Eastern country.<iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1993464414255656984&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=9286fbe81e9d05f60b48397e3d0fa3a190e49ffb&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe><div class="fr-embed" style="line-height: 2;"> </div>The events include the Asian Football Confederation&rsquo;s (AFC) Asian Cup, 2027, the Asian Winter Games 2029, the Asian Games 2034, and the FIFA World Cup 2034. &quot;Looking forward to building this partnership for our young people and for the region,&quot; Naqvi said. Naqvi had also met the&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishal Al Saud, last year, where the pair&nbsp;discussed avenues for cricket development and player training in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, had said earlier that the country was determined to deliver &ldquo;the most exciting World Cup ever hosted&rdquo; when it stages the tournament in 2034.

Cricket

ACC president deeply appreciates leading “Crown Prince’s Vision 2030”, says looking forward to “building this partnership for young people and for the region.

Islamabad, Riyadh discuss promoting cricket in Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Police and paramilitary force training dominated security discussions between Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, during talks in Riyadh, the Pakistani interior minister said on Tuesday. According to the statement released on Naqvi&rsquo;s WhatsApp Channel, the two sides agreed to launch a training exchange program for police and paramilitary personnel, alongside broader cooperation on security matters between the interior ministries of both countries. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides and formed part of a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening defense and security ties. The statement said the two ministers also decided that a working group meeting of the interior ministries would convene next month. During the talks, &ldquo;the long-standing issue of the legal status of Burmese Muslims was also discussed,&rdquo; the statement said. It added that the Saudi minister expressed his appreciation to Naqvi &ldquo;for resolving the issue of Burmese Muslims.&rdquo; Prince Abdulaziz also offered condolences over this week&rsquo;s suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, which left three paramilitary personnel martyred. Naqvi, as quoted in the statement, described Saudi Arabia as &ldquo;a second home to every Pakistani&rdquo; and said the country was proud of its &ldquo;enduring relations with Saudi Arabia.&rdquo; The meeting follows a sustained uptick in Pakistan&ndash;Saudi security engagement. In September, the two countries signed a defense pact, building on decades of military cooperation. Earlier this month, Pakistan army&rsquo;s Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Syed Aamer Raza held high-level talks in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart Gen. Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al-Ruwaily. Gen. Al-Ruwaily met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday, where he reiterated the Kingdom&rsquo;s intent to elevate the &ldquo;excellent defense and strategic partnership&rdquo; with Pakistan.

Saudi minister offers condolences to families of soldiers martyred in attack on FC headquarters in Peshawar. Naqvi says Middle Eastern country like a “second home to every Pakistani,” country is proud of their “enduring relations with Saudi Arabia.”

Police, paramilitary training tops agenda in Pakistan–Saudi security talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday emphasized the need for global solidarity and shared progress while outlining Pakistan&rsquo;s economic reform efforts during his address at the Ninth Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in Riyadh. Sharif opened his remarks by expressing gratitude for the invitation and praised the leadership of Saudi crown prince. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to congratulate my very dear brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for this wonderful event which symbolizes his leadership and his vision to transform societies like he has done in Saudi Arabia,&rdquo; he said. The prime minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s economic journey since independence, acknowledging past missteps while reaffirming the country&rsquo;s commitment to change. &ldquo;We have made very honest mistakes and we have learned from our mistakes,&rdquo; Sharif said. &ldquo;Important thing is to learn from your mistakes. That&rsquo;s what we are doing.&rdquo; He noted Pakistan was currently implementing &ldquo;robust changes and deep-rooted reforms,&rdquo; including digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue and strong action against corruption. &ldquo;Rome was not built overnight,&rdquo; he added, emphasizing that structural reforms take time. Sharif also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population, nearly 60% of citizens, as both a challenge and an opportunity. &ldquo;We are offering them training, skill training&hellip; for productive employment,&rdquo; he said. However, Sharif said Pakistan continues to face significant climate vulnerability, despite contributing &ldquo;less than a fraction of one percent&rdquo; to global emissions. Recalling the devastating 2022 floods and subsequent disasters, he said the country suffered $130 billion in economic losses. &ldquo;Large swathes of our land was under water. Crops were destroyed. Millions of houses were destroyed,&rdquo; he said. He argued that repeated reliance on loans to rebuild is unsustainable. &ldquo;Loans over loans, loans over loans, your back will break and you will never be able to stand up,&rdquo; Sharif said. &ldquo;This is not acceptable.&rdquo; Calling for collective global support, Sharif said climate-affected nations must not be left to recover alone. &ldquo;If humanity has to move forward, it has to move forward in unison,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Share modern technologies with those countries which can use those technologies and grow their production.&rdquo; Despite the challenges, Sharif closed on a message of resolve. &ldquo;We are resolved by the grace of God,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will turn Pakistan as one of the most going countries through hard work&hellip; and make our country stand in the community of nations like a very honorable country.&rdquo; Iran welcomes Pakistan-Saudi Arabia strategic agreementLate on Tuesday, the head of Iran&rsquo;s top security body, Ali Larijani, said that &ldquo;it was a matter of joy for us&rdquo; that a strategic agreement has been finalized between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, stating that the Muslim community needed this &ldquo;brotherhood.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983247422542233773&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=348a8707f81577bf1f210f674a0762aeef3548a0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1983247422542233773"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;We need action and cooperation, not speeches, to resolve the region&#39;s issues,&rdquo; Iran&#39;s Supreme National Security Council secretary said in a post on X. &nbsp;&ldquo;This agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflects that very spirit, and we welcome it.&rdquo; Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to launch several strategic and high-impact projects under a new Economic Cooperation Framework aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative, PM Shehbaz Sharif stresses reforms, youth potential, and climate vulnerability, urging global cooperation beyond loans to support Pakistan’s growth.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Saudi Arabia relations"