Islamabad, February 9, 2026 – Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia continues to remain resilient despite global geopolitical tensions, said Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday.
The minister described Saudi Arabia as a “longstanding partner” and stressed the importance of sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation across key economic sectors.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Aurangzeb emphasized that the partnership has weathered challenging times and is now positioned for growth, particularly following Pakistan’s recent achievement of macroeconomic stability.
“The Kingdom has been a longstanding partner of Pakistan for the longest time, and we are very grateful for how we have been supported through thick and thin. Even now that we have achieved macroeconomic stability, I think we are well positioned for growth,” he said.
Saudi Investments Driving Economic Growth
Aurangzeb highlighted that Saudi investments are active across sectors such as minerals and mining, information technology, agriculture, tourism, and energy. He cited Wafi’s entry into Pakistan’s downstream oil and gas sector as a recent example of the growing pipeline of investment.
“The Kingdom has been very public about their appetite for the country. The sectors are minerals and mining, IT, agriculture, tourism; and there are already investments which have come in,” the minister noted.
He added that private sector activity is currently driving growth in these sectors, while government-to-government cooperation is largely focused on infrastructure development.
Structural Reforms Boost Business Environment
Acknowledging previous investor concerns regarding bureaucracy and delays, Aurangzeb said Pakistan has made significant progress over the past two years through structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and improvements in the business environment.
“The last two years we have worked very hard in terms of structural reforms, getting the basic hygiene right, the fiscal situation, and the current economic situation,” he remarked.
Key Areas of Cooperation
Aurangzeb highlighted mining and refining, including discussions around the Reko Diq project, as key areas of engagement. He stressed that discussions with Saudi investors extend beyond individual ventures.
The minister also pointed to growing collaboration in the IT sector, particularly artificial intelligence, with several Pakistani tech firms already in discussions or operating offices in Saudi Arabia.
“We have the third-largest freelancer population in the world, and what we need to do is ensure that we upscale, rescale, and upgrade them,” Aurangzeb said, referring to Pakistan’s tech talent pool and opportunities for deeper collaboration.
Moving From Aid to Trade
Looking ahead, Aurangzeb said Pakistan aims to recalibrate its relationship with Saudi Arabia toward trade and investment, reducing dependency on aid.
“Our prime minister has been very clear that we want to move this entire discussion from aid and support to trade and investment,” he concluded.
The minister also noted continued cooperation in energy, defense production, and infrastructure, highlighting the strategic depth and long-term potential of Pakistan-Saudi relations.