ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, higher education, cultural exchange and professional development, with a focus on expanding academic partnerships, student and faculty exchanges, scholarships and joint research initiatives.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
During the meeting, both sides held constructive discussions on matters of mutual interest and explored avenues for further strengthening the longstanding and brotherly relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in education, higher education, cultural exchange and professional development.
#إسلام_آباد | استقبل معالي وزير التعليم والتدريب المهني الباكستاني الدكتور/ خالد مقبول صديقي، سعادة سفير #خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين لدى باكستان الدكتور/ راجح بن طامي البقمي، بمناسبة توليه مهامه الدبلوماسية الجديدة، وتم بحث تعزيز التعاون في مجالات التعليم العالي، والتبادل الأكاديمي، والمنح الدراسية، والبحث العلمي المشترك، ونشر اللغة العربية، والتبادل الثقافي، والشراكات المؤسسية، وأكد معاليه وسعادته على العلاقات الأخوية التاريخية بين البلدين الشقيقين وأهمية تعزيزها في كافة المجالات بما في ذلك الجوانب التعليمية من خلال شراكات تعليمية فاعلة ومبادرات تحقق المنفعة المتبادلة. وفي ختام اللقاء تمنى لسعادته التوفيق والنجاح في أداء مهام عمله لدى باكستان.
من جانبه أكد سعادة السفير لمعاليه على أهمية الاستمرار في تعزيز التعاون مع باكستان ودعم جهود التنسيق والشراكة الاستراتيجية في كافة المجالات.
— السفارة في باكستان – سعودی سفارت خانہ (@KSAembassyPK) November 4, 2026
Focus on academic partnerships and educational cooperation
The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral educational cooperation through academic exchange programmes, institutional partnerships, capacity-building initiatives and collaborative opportunities between universities and higher education institutions in both countries.
Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening cooperation in higher education, facilitating academic mobility and creating opportunities for students, researchers, faculty members and education professionals to benefit from shared knowledge and expertise.
Both sides exchanged views on expanding scholarship opportunities, student exchange programmes, faculty development, joint research initiatives and academic collaboration. They also highlighted the importance of establishing stronger links between universities and educational institutions to promote innovation, research excellence and the international exchange of academic experiences.
The Federal Secretary for Education, Nadeem Mahbub, emphasised the need to further strengthen higher education cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He highlighted the potential for establishing academic partnerships, promoting joint research, facilitating student and faculty exchanges and encouraging collaboration between universities and research institutions in the two countries.
He further underscored that stronger educational links would provide valuable opportunities for the exchange of expertise, human resource development and the promotion of academic excellence. He also stressed the importance of translating bilateral discussions into practical initiatives that could deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes for both countries.
Cultural exchange and broader areas of cooperation
The meeting also explored prospects for enhanced cultural cooperation, particularly through the promotion of Arabic language education, Arabic literature and cultural exchange initiatives.
The participants discussed the importance of promoting linguistic understanding and cultural awareness through academic programmes, educational institutions and collaborative activities aimed at bringing the people of both countries closer.
Furthermore, opportunities for cooperation in other areas, including defence-related education, professional training, knowledge-sharing and institutional development, were also discussed. Both sides acknowledged the importance of broadening bilateral engagement beyond traditional areas of cooperation and exploring new avenues for mutual progress and development.
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Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui welcomed the Ambassador and appreciated Saudi Arabia’s continued engagement with Pakistan. He emphasised the significance of educational and cultural cooperation in further strengthening the historic relationship between the two brotherly countries and highlighted the importance of expanding collaboration in areas of shared interest.
Ambassador Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expressed interest in exploring further opportunities for cooperation, particularly in education, higher education, Arabic language promotion and cultural exchange.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to strengthening their longstanding partnership through enhanced educational collaboration, institutional engagement, cultural understanding and mutually beneficial initiatives.
Both sides expressed their desire to maintain close coordination and continue exploring practical avenues for expanding cooperation across various sectors, the official statement added.
Islamabad and Riyadh have maintained close relations for decades and have sought to broaden cooperation across several sectors.
In 2024, the two countries signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion covering multiple areas of cooperation.
The Kingdom remains the country’s largest source of remittances and hosts more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates, highlighting the depth of economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
