Saudi investors eye Pakistan's motorway, ports and mining projects as new agreements signed

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia moved to deepen economic cooperation this week, with Saudi investors expressing interest in major motorway projects while both countries finalised a series of agreements covering infrastructure, ports, real estate and mineral development during a two-day meeting of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council.

The agreements were signed during a business engagement hosted by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Joint Business Council as part of efforts to accelerate Saudi investment into Pakistan and strengthen business-to-business partnerships.

In a separate high-level meeting, Chairman of the Saudi Pakistan Joint Business Council Prince Mansour bin Muhammad Al Saud met Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan's transport infrastructure sector.

During the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan invited Saudi investors to participate in key motorway projects, including the M6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, M10 Karachi Port Motorway and M13 Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway.

The minister said the projects offered commercially viable investment opportunities and were strategically important for trade and connectivity. He added that Pakistan's expanding road network would support regional commerce and economic activity.

Prince Mansour bin Muhammad Al Saud expressed interest in exploring partnerships in the motorway projects and said the Saudi Business Council was prepared to cooperate in Pakistan's communications and infrastructure sectors.

The communications minister assured the Saudi delegation that investors would be offered commercially viable investment models and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to facilitating foreign investment.

Separately, officials said agreements were reached in several sectors, including port development, motorway infrastructure, real estate and minerals.

One of the agreements relates to the long-delayed Hyderabad-Karachi Motorway project, which is considered important for improving logistics and trade connectivity.

Saudi investors were also briefed on opportunities in energy, mining, petroleum, industrial development and power sector projects, including transmission lines and smart metering initiatives.

The agreements were signed in the presence of former caretaker federal minister Gohar Ejaz, while Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud signed on behalf of the Saudi delegation.

The business forum was jointly chaired by former caretaker minister Gohar Ejaz and Chairman Pakistan-Saudi Joint Business Council Fawad Mukhtar. The Saudi delegation was led by Chairman Pakistan-Saudi Business Council Prince Mansour bin Al Saud.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik, Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, senior government officials and business leaders also participated in the discussions.

Speaking at the event, Gohar Ejaz said Saudi investors were showing growing interest in Pakistan's economy and investment opportunities. He added that Saudi investment remained important for Pakistan's economic growth and that the government was offering facilitation measures and incentives for foreign investors.

At the conclusion of his meeting with Abdul Aleem Khan, Prince Mansour assured the minister of the Saudi Business Council's full cooperation and expressed optimism about future collaboration. The communications minister said the council would continue to play an important role in strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.