Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to sign strategic economic pact

February 18, 2026 (MLN): Saudi Arabia is preparing to sign a major strategic economic agreement with Pakistan to deepen bilateral ties, the Saudi envoy said, months after both nations concluded a landmark mutual defense pact, according to a report by Arab News.

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki made the remarks while speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Ramadan food assistance program in Islamabad.

The announcement follows the signing of the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) in September last year, under which both countries pledged to treat aggression against either side as an attack on both.

The ambassador said preparations are underway for a new strategic economic plan between the two countries that is expected to be signed soon.

The proposed framework builds on understandings reached during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh in October, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Both sides agreed to prioritize high-impact projects across energy, industry, mining, information technology, tourism, agriculture, and food security to strengthen trade and investment flows.

The two countries have already signed a memorandum of understanding for an electricity interconnection project. In 2024, Islamabad and Riyadh also inked 34 MoUs worth about $2.8 billion spanning multiple sectors.

Separately, KSrelief launched a nationwide Ramadan food assistance initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable communities across Pakistan.

The program will distribute 27,000 food baskets benefiting approximately 192,500 people in 30 districts.

Each package contains 80 kilograms of wheat flour, 5 liters of cooking oil, 5 kilograms of sugar, 2 kilograms of dates, and 5 kilograms of gram pulse, sufficient to sustain an average household throughout Ramadan.

According to KSrelief, the initiative is part of its broader humanitarian mission to alleviate hardship, strengthen resilience, and address food security challenges in Pakistan.

Copyright Mettis Link News