LAHORE: Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Province has strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Maryam Nawaz made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy in Lahore.
The Chief Minister expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of human lives resulting from the Houthi attacks.
Maryam Nawaz congratulated the newly appointed Dr. Rajeh Albugamy on assuming his diplomatic responsibilities.
#فيديو| جانب من اللقاء مع رئيسة وزراء إقليم #البنجاب السيدة/ مريم نواز شريف. https://t.co/TcZxn7gIKf
— السفارة في باكستان – سعودی سفارت خانہ (@KSAembassyPK) October 21, 2026
Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their economic and financial support to Pakistan.
She said the Makkah Defence Agreement reflected a joint commitment to protecting sovereignty and security, adding that Pakistan fully supported Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defence.
She also invited Saudi citizens to visit Punjab’s tourist destinations.
The meeting also included discussions on holding a pivot roadshow in Riyadh. It was agreed to set a target of more than Rs500 billion in exports of livestock, beef, poultry, mangoes, kinnows, potatoes and shrimp from Punjab.
Largest source of remittances
Maryam Nawaz said Saudi Arabia was the largest source of remittances to Pakistan, sending $9.8 billion.
Dr. Rajeh Al-Buqami praised the deep brotherly and strategic ties between the two countries and their peoples and expressed a commitment to further strengthening relations in all fields.
He thanked the Pakistani government, armed forces and people for their support for Saudi Arabia and expressed appreciation for all measures to protect the Kingdom’s security, stability and territorial integrity.
He said Punjab’s heritage, from Mughal monuments to living traditions, was an attraction in itself, while Lahore’s hospitality, cuisine and warmth were famous in Pakistan and beyond.
The Saudi envoy praised the deep, brotherly and strategic relations between the two countries and their peoples and expressed a commitment to further strengthening these ties in all fields.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia express satisfaction on progress made under Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Earlier on Monday, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy met with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, with both sides expressing satisfaction over the progress made under the trilateral Makkah defence agreement, according to the military’s media wing.
Albugamy assumed his diplomatic responsibilities in Islamabad last Thursday, reaffirming the commitment to strengthening the strategic and fraternal ties between the two countries.
During the meeting at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, matters of mutual interest and regional security dynamics were discussed, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Rajeh Tami Albugamy, called on the Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at GHQ, Rawalpindi. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and regional security dynamics were discussed.
@OfficialDGISPR
#PakistanSaudiArabia #AsimMunir #SaudiAmbassador #BilateralRelations #PakistanTV— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) October 19, 2026
Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening defence collaboration, institutional linkages and strategic coordination.
The Field Marshal congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure would further contribute to strengthening the longstanding fraternal ties between the countries, rooted in shared faith, mutual trust and strategic partnership.
ALSO READ: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Express Satisfaction on Progress Made Under Makkah Joint Defence Agreement
Islamabad and Riyadh have signed two defence pacts aimed at collective deterrence, the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between the two and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance that also includes Turkiye.
Pakistan PM reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia in protecting its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
He made the remarks during a meeting with the newly arrived Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy, who called on him in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The newly arrived Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, today. https://t.co/Vmy1JUfShD
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) October 16, 2026
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations had made significant progress in recent years and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
He strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, which had resulted in deaths and injuries, including among Pakistani nationals, the statement said.
He underlined that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had always stood by each other and that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance marked historic milestones in their longstanding fraternal relations and reflected their shared commitment to regional peace and security.
Deputy PM vows to strengthen strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia
Ambassador Albugamy also held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, where the latter underscored the longstanding fraternal and strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh, according to the Foreign Office (FO).
He also reaffirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity”
The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of the Saudi leadership to Pakistan’s leadership and people.
