
Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in agri-infrastructure, eyes long-term food security
The call was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki in Islamabad, following the launch ceremony of the third phase of the Saudi Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
'Rana Tanveer Hussain shared Pakistan's long-term vision for achieving sustainable food security through investment in agricultural research, innovation and modernized farming systems,' said the statement circulated after the meeting.
'The Minister proposed deeper collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in key areas such as joint agricultural research, technological exchange and investment in food processing and storage infrastructure,' it added.
Hussain also highlighted Pakistan's commitment to improving irrigation practices and promoting climate-adaptive agriculture to address the growing challenges posed by environmental degradation.
He invited Saudi investors to explore opportunities in agri-based projects, particularly in high-yield zones, and called for institutional cooperation between universities and research centers in both countries.
The minister also proposed joint work on desert agriculture, seed development and water efficiency, describing them as high-impact areas for regional collaboration.
Earlier, he distributed food baskets to families under the Saudi Food Security Support Project and interacted with recipients.
Now in its third phase, the Saudi-backed initiative is delivering essential food supplies to thousands of households across Pakistan, providing much-needed relief amid climate-related challenges.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's $2.5tn mineral reserves fuel industrial push
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is accelerating the development of its mining sector as a central pillar of economic diversification, with the Kingdom's mineral wealth now estimated at SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion). The surge in value is driven by discoveries of rare earth elements, base metals, gold, phosphate, and titanium — a strong, lightweight metal with high-value applications in aviation and turbine manufacturing. A major catalyst for this growth is the Northern Borders region, home to SR4.6 trillion in resources and a key hub for phosphate production. Developments in Waad Al-Shamal have helped position the Kingdom among the world's top phosphate exporters. In alignment with Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, the mining sector is projected to boost its contribution to gross domestic product from $17 billion in 2024 to $75 billion by 2030. It generated $400 million in revenue in 2023 and is now backed by a $100 billion investment plan targeting critical minerals by 2035. Speaking to Arab News, Saurabh Priyadarshi, a geologist and adviser for mining and metals at Geoxplorers Consulting Services, highlighted that Saudi Arabia's substantial reserves of gold, copper, phosphate, rare earth elements, and lithium position it as a potential global leader in the industry. 'Saudi Arabia can foresee itself becoming a key player in the global minerals supply chain. Calling these minerals critical is a different matter altogether,' he said. Priyadarshi added that one of the strongest diversification drivers is rising global demand for battery metals and industrial minerals that power electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. 'As global markets push toward decarbonization, Saudi Arabia, too, can and should leverage its $2.5 trillion mineral resource base to power the next phase of industrial growth,' Priyadarshi said. Saudi Arabia is also prioritizing domestic resources and talent, promoting public-private partnerships, and adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to drive sustainable, long-term growth. Minerals central to 2030 plan Mansour Ahmed, an independent economic adviser, described mineral development as a strategic cornerstone of Vision 2030. He said Saudi Arabia's untapped reserves are 'critical to the global energy transition.' Ahmed stressed that growing the sector would expand non-oil GDP, generate employment, and drive regional development. He highlighted the importance of mining cities and downstream hubs 'to maximize local value and build integrated, resilient supply chains.' Both Priyadarshi and Ahmed noted Saudi Arabia's alignment of mining with advanced manufacturing and innovation. Priyadarshi pointed to Ras Al-Khair's aluminum smelter and the planned battery chemicals complex in Yanbu, developed in partnership with EV Metals Group, as examples of the Kingdom's industrial leap forward. Investments in automated mining technologies, AI-driven exploration, and ESG-focused practices reflect Saudi Arabia's ambitions to become a global hub for sustainable resource extraction. Saurabh Priyadarshi, geologist and adviser for mining and metals at Geoxplorers Consulting Services Saudi Arabia has also secured lithium processing capabilities, becoming the first Middle Eastern country to establish a battery materials supply pipeline. 'The government is leveraging its Public Investment Fund to finance mining and battery production, ensuring long-term supply chain resilience,' Priyadarshi said. He also cited strategic global moves, such as acquiring stakes in Vale's base metals division and developing domestic copper smelting, as reinforcing the Kingdom's ambitions in critical minerals. According to the Vision 2030 Annual Report for 2024, mining has been prioritized as a key sector for economic diversification. The report highlights significant reforms introduced to support this strategic shift, including the Comprehensive Mining Strategy and the Mining Investment Law — both designed to create a more attractive and transparent regulatory environment. Institutional support was reinforced through the establishment of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. Furthermore, the Saudi Geological Survey and the National Geological Database were launched to strengthen geological mapping and resource assessment capabilities. New entities such as Manara Minerals, the Mining Fund, and the Nuthree Exploration Incubator were also created to stimulate investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the sector. ESG and AI integration Priyadarshi emphasized that sustainability is integral to this transformation, with AI-driven exploration minimizing environmental impact, automation improving productivity and energy efficiency, and blockchain tools ensuring compliance with ethical, environmental, social, and governance standards. Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in renewables to power its industrial base. Priyadarshi pointed to the Kingdom's $235 billion commitment to solar, wind, and hydrogen, including NEOM's $5 billion green hydrogen facility and a $35 billion phosphate and bauxite processing expansion at Ras Al-Khair. Ras Al-Khair Industrial City is home to Ma'aden's phosphate and ammonia plants, aluminum smelters, and steel production facilities such as Hadeed — showcasing the Kingdom's ability not only to extract, but also to process and add value to its mineral resources. The city is rapidly emerging as a strategic node in global supply chains. Priyadarshi noted that the Kingdom's strategy extends beyond resource extraction. He underscored the importance of integrating mining with downstream industries such as aluminum smelting, phosphate processing, and electric vehicle battery production to reinforce supply chains and develop high-value sectors that move beyond the export of raw minerals. 'Investments in automated mining technologies, AI-driven exploration, and ESG-focused practices reflect Saudi Arabia's ambitions to become a global hub for sustainable resource extraction,' he said. When asked about the most strategically important minerals for the Kingdom, Ahmed identified phosphate, rare earth elements, and gold as critical. He explained that phosphate is essential for food security and serves as a key driver of industrial exports, while rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium are vital for manufacturing EVs, wind turbines, defense technologies, and high-tech electronics — making them central to future-proofing the clean energy economy. 'Gold continues to hold significant financial value and remains an important mineral for the Kingdom. Copper and bauxite closely follow, given their growing importance in global electrification,' Ahmed added. Global rankings According to the Vision 2030 report, Saudi Arabia has achieved top international rankings in the mining sector. The Kingdom secured first place for mining investment growth, as reported by MineHutte and the Mining Journal. It also ranks among the top 10 countries for mining financial policies and holds the second position globally for efficient license issuance — taking approximately 90 days to issue a mining license. The report adds that Saudi Arabia's advanced legislative framework has attracted significant interest, with 290 local and international companies operating in the sector as of 2024. The National Geological Database has dramatically expanded its coverage from just 1.7 percent in 2021 to 51 percent by last year, enabling better resource identification. Investor confidence remains high, with 30 proposals submitted for the Kingdom's largest-ever mining tender in 2024, covering valuable mineral sites containing gold, silver, copper, and zinc.


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Mayor of Riyadh attends Rwanda national day celebration
RIYADH: Riyadh Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf attended the National Day celebration held by the Embassy of Rwanda at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The mayor was received by Rwandan Ambassador to the Kingdom Eugene Segore Kayihura and other officials. Separately, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki recently met Pakistani federal secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Drug Control, Mohammed Khurram Agha. The pair discussed topics of common interest, the ambassador wrote on X.


Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
2024: A year of fiscal discipline, economic growth
Saudi Arabia has released its 2024 fiscal results, highlighting how structural and fiscal reforms have strengthened economic resilience and improved the ability to navigate global challenges. These reforms have driven robust, non-oil sector growth, reduced unemployment to record lows, and kept inflation below global averages. The government remains committed to advancing fiscal policies that reinforce economic stability and ensure long-term sustainability. These measures have supported the Kingdom's development agenda while maintaining fiscal discipline, stimulating growth and preserving healthy public reserves and debt levels. In 2024, total revenues exceeded the approved budget by about 7.4 percent, thanks to stronger-than-expected oil and non-oil performance. Higher oil revenues were driven by performance-linked dividends, while non-oil revenues rose 14.1 percent over the budget, reflecting the expansion of non-oil activities and continued efforts to strengthen non-oil revenue streams. Total expenditure rose by about 9.9 percent over the approved budget, reflecting significant progress toward Vision 2030 goals and the execution of key projects. This increase was also driven by advancing some expenditure originally planned for future years, raising both operational and capital spending. The higher spending supported efforts to sustain and enhance social programs, mitigating the impact of economic changes on targeted beneficiaries. Additional measures focused on improving public service quality, enhancing quality of life, empowering the private sector and creating a more attractive investment climate. The actual fiscal deficit for 2024 was around SR116 billion ($31 billion), or 2.5 percent of gross domestic product, exceeding the approved deficit of SR79 billion (1.9 percent of GDP). By the end of 2024, public debt rose to nearly SR1.2 trillion, about 26.2 percent of GDP, up from SR1.1 trillion a year earlier. Government reserves stood at roughly SR390 billion. The General Authority for Statistics reported a decline in real GDP growth for 2024 compared to the budgeted forecast of 4.4 percent, mainly due to a 4.4 percent drop in oil sector activity. This reflects the Kingdom's voluntary production cuts under the OPEC+ framework and its commitment to energy market stability. Despite the decline in the oil sector, non-oil sectors outperformed projections, growing by 5.2 percent and driving overall real GDP growth of about 2 percent. This was supported by ongoing economic diversification and structural reforms that boosted activity. In 2024, the Kingdom recorded an inflation rate of 1.7 percent, well below the global average and the budgeted estimate of 2.2 percent. These results underscore the government's strong commitment to Vision 2030 through responsible fiscal policy, targeted investments and broad economic reforms. Despite a challenging global environment — marked by oil market volatility, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty — the Saudi economy showed resilience, adaptability, and steady progress toward diversification. Structural and fiscal reforms enabled the government to navigate 2024's challenges, driving strong growth in non-oil activities. These reforms also lowered unemployment to a historic 7 percent in 2024 and kept inflation well below global trends. The government remains committed to forward-looking fiscal policies that support economic stability and ensure long-term sustainability. Maintaining low inflation, boosting non-oil revenues, and expanding non-oil activity have helped mitigate risks from declining oil revenues and price volatility. These achievements highlight the effectiveness of the reform agenda and the Kingdom's commitment to a diversified, sustainable economic future. With public debt at sustainable levels and reserves healthy, the Kingdom is well-positioned to advance its transformative agenda. Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to enhancing competitiveness, improving citizens' quality of life, empowering the private sector, and building a vibrant, inclusive economy. Through fiscal discipline, innovation, and strategic investment, the Kingdom aims to strengthen the foundations of long-term sustainability and prosperity — balancing growth with fiscal prudence under its expansionary spending policies. • Talat Zaki Hafiz is an economist and financial analyst. X: @TalatHafiz