Saudi Framework
Publishing date: 29 October 2025
Published in: The Nation
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has become a regular presence in Saudi Arabia, and his frequent visits are beginning to yield tangible results. From attending investment and climate conferences to securing a strategic defence pact, his latest achievement — the launch of the Economic Cooperation Framework — marks another milestone in deepening Pakistan–Saudi relations. The framework aims to advance collaboration across key sectors including energy, industry, mining, information technology, tourism, agriculture and food security, signalling a new phase of economic and strategic engagement between the two nations.
By building on cultural ties and the recently signed Strategic Defence Agreement, Shahbaz Sharif is seeking to expand cooperation into areas of trade and development that promise long-term benefits for both sides. Pakistan offers vast natural resources and untapped potential, while Saudi Arabia brings financial strength and technical expertise — a partnership that, if effectively managed, could become a model for mutually beneficial growth.
However, while the government rightly celebrates this breakthrough, it must also acknowledge a recurring challenge: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed numerous bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding in the past, yet many have struggled to move beyond the announcement stage. Despite repeated expressions of goodwill, implementation has often lagged, and concrete progress on the ground remains limited.
For this partnership to succeed, economic cooperation must be complemented by a broader geopolitical and strategic vision. Pakistan should view these opportunities not merely as trade initiatives but as vital components of its foreign policy and national security strategy. The government must now translate promises into performance — and it is hoped that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will deliver on this with his trademark “Shahbaz speed,” ensuring these projects move from paper to practice and bring lasting benefits to both nations