ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the energy and mineral sectors, aiming to deepen economic ties and encourage joint investment.
This came during a meeting between Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, on Friday, the Pakistani information ministry said.
“During the meeting, both sides reviewed ongoing collaboration and explored new avenues for cooperation, particularly in the energy and minerals sectors. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing economic partnership and promoting mutually beneficial investment opportunities,” it said.
The development follows a recent meeting between Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, held on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. The forum was attended by 13 public and private sector companies from Pakistan.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Petroleum, Minister Alkhorayef highlighted the “vast opportunities” for cooperation between the two countries in the minerals sector and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s willingness to support the development of Pakistan’s mining industry through the sharing of knowledge and technical expertise.
In Friday’s meeting the Saudi Ambassador Malki appreciated Pakistan’s active participation in the Future Minerals Forum, which offered significant opportunities for regional collaboration.
“Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination to further strengthen economic and strategic cooperation in the coming period,” the information ministry added.
Malik expressed confidence that the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would translate into tangible outcomes, promoting investment, technology transfer, and sustainable development for mutual benefit.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key player in the global minerals and energy sectors, accelerating investments in green technologies, sustainable mining practices, and international partnerships that are shaping the future of the mining industry.
Last year, Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals—a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund and Ma’aden—expressed interest in acquiring a 15 percent stake in Pakistan’s Reko Diq gold and copper project.
Valued at $7 billion, the project is located in Balochistan and is being developed by Canadian mining company Barrick Gold in partnership with Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.
