Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met Saudi envoy Dr Rajeh Albugamy, the newly appointed Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, in Lahore on Wednesday and set an export target of more than Rs500 billion for food and livestock products from Punjab to Saudi Arabia.
The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s office, also covered investment, trade cooperation and the Makkah defence agreement, which Maryam described as the start of a new chapter in Pakistan-Saudi relations.
Maryam Nawaz welcomed Dr Albugamy and congratulated him on taking up his diplomatic duties in Islamabad. She appreciated his diplomatic services and thanked the Saudi leadership for its continued economic and financial assistance to Pakistan.
Maryam Nawaz Saudi envoy talks: Rs500bn food export target
The two sides agreed to use Punjab’s agricultural and livestock potential to raise exports of livestock, beef, poultry, mangoes, potatoes and shrimp to the Kingdom, with a target of more than Rs500 billion.
Officials said the meeting discussed organising a PIVOT roadshow in Riyadh to attract Saudi investment into Punjab. Maryam Nawaz said the province had the capacity to become a dependable supplier of halal-certified food products to Saudi Arabia, building on the recent surge in Punjab’s animal exports.
The chief minister pointed out that stronger economic cooperation would create new opportunities for businesses in both countries. She stressed that shared economic strength was an important guarantee of shared security, as Pakistan’s food exports continued to grow.
Maryam Nawaz noted that Saudi Arabia remained Pakistan’s largest source of remittances, contributing about $9.8 billion a year, and said the decades-long bond of trust between the Saudi leadership and the Sharif family reflected the depth of bilateral ties.
Makkah defence pact and Houthi attacks
On the security front, Maryam Nawaz described the Makkah defence agreement, signed in August 2026, as the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations. She strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious human lives.
The Makkah defence pact binds Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in a decade-long security arrangement, and recent weeks have seen the Badr defence pact extend a similar framework to Qatar and Indonesia. The new envoy recently also discussed progress under the Makkah pact with Pakistan’s top military leadership.
She said Pakistan fully supported Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself and protect its people, cities and critical infrastructure. She added that the people of Pakistan and Punjab stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom, and that attempts to target Makkah and Madinah were condemnable, following recent drone attacks blamed on the Houthis.
The chief minister also invited Saudi citizens to visit Punjab’s tourist destinations, and conveyed her best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi Crown Prince.
Dr Rajeh Albugamy thanked the government of Pakistan, its armed forces and the people for their support to Saudi Arabia. He praised the deep brotherly ties between the two countries and said he would work to strengthen relations in all fields.
Why it matters for Punjab
The export target matters because food and livestock exports can open a large, steady market for Punjab’s farmers, meat processors and poultry firms. Saudi Arabia already buys significant food volumes from abroad, and halal certification gives Pakistani producers a clear edge.
If the PIVOT roadshow brings Saudi investment into Punjab’s agriculture and processing sector, it could create jobs in rural areas and raise farm incomes. For the province, the meeting signals that the new Saudi envoy’s first priority, after defence cooperation, is deepening the economic side of the relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new Saudi ambassador to Pakistan?
Dr Rajeh Albugamy is the newly appointed Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. He called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore on Wednesday in one of his first meetings with a provincial leader.
What export target did Maryam Nawaz and the Saudi envoy agree on?
The two sides agreed on a target of more than Rs500 billion in exports from Punjab to Saudi Arabia, covering livestock, beef, poultry, mangoes, potatoes and shrimp.
What is the PIVOT roadshow?
The PIVOT roadshow is a planned investment-promotion event in Riyadh aimed at attracting Saudi investment into Punjab across agriculture, livestock and other sectors.
What did Maryam Nawaz say about the Makkah defence agreement?
She described the Makkah defence agreement, signed in August 2026, as the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan-Saudi relations, and said Pakistan fully supported Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself.
