Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have discussed accelerating the signing and implementation of the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement. Islamabad sees the proposed pact as an opportunity to improve market access and create new openings for exporters.
Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan discussed the agreement with Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Rajeh Albugamy. The meeting took place at the minister’s Islamabad office on Friday, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
Kamal said the agreement could expand bilateral trade and strengthen economic engagement. Both sides placed its early signing and implementation among their priorities for closer commercial cooperation.
Welcoming the ambassador, the minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s historic and deep-rooted relationship with Saudi Arabia. He also acknowledged the Kingdom’s special significance as custodian of the Haram.
Kamal said Pakistan had worked consistently over the past three years to strengthen these ties. Those efforts covered government-to-government contacts, business-to-business partnerships and people-to-people engagement.
He linked opportunities for greater economic integration to Saudi Arabia’s diversification programme under Vision 2030. Pakistan’s production capacity and industrial capabilities, he said, offered scope for cooperation as the Saudi economy develops new sectors.
The minister identified higher production, better product quality and modern technology as areas where businesses could collaborate. He also stressed the need to improve industrial competitiveness.
Such cooperation could help Pakistani companies meet Saudi market requirements while generating benefits for businesses in both countries. Kamal called for a broader Pakistani export base and stronger private-sector partnerships to turn expanding engagement into measurable trade results.
Albugamy reaffirmed the enduring bonds of brotherhood between the two countries and pledged continued support for stronger bilateral economic relations. He highlighted opportunities to improve regional connectivity and deepen cooperation, particularly in agriculture.
The ambassador also committed to maintaining close contact with the Ministry of Commerce. That engagement would support economic cooperation and help identify further opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.
Both sides agreed to regular coordination and follow-up discussions on trade, investment and agriculture. Their shared objective was to translate longstanding friendship into stronger economic ties.
The latest discussions follow earlier progress on the wider Gulf trade pact. Pakistan and the GCC concluded their final negotiating round at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh from September 26 to 28, 2023.
At that stage, Pakistan’s government said internal administrative and approval procedures would precede formal signing and entry into force. The distinction remains relevant as officials continue to seek early implementation.
The GCC Secretariat subsequently confirmed that the agreement had been initialled on September 28, 2023. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reviewed developments concerning the pact in New York on September 22, 2025.
The statement on the latest Islamabad meeting announced no signing date or implementation timetable.
