Bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are based on a solid foundation, the essence of which is the unity of faith and brotherhood, and the significance that they have at various Islamic, regional and international levels. levels, they are characterized by “convergence and mutual respect”, and politically by “understanding and integration of roles” to improve the process of joint action and influential force in solving various issues, both on the continent and at the international level.
Relations between the two sides date back to April 1940, seven years before Pakistan gained independence from the British crown. After independence in 1947, Pakistan sought new horizons of cooperation and friendship and became the closest Muslim ally of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which, in turn, turn, was one of the first countries to recognize the sovereignty of Pakistan and its borders on the world map.
The Kingdom holds a special place in the hearts of the Pakistani people and enjoys great respect and appreciation in all official, party, Islamic and popular Pakistani political circles, based on Islamic ties and a solid foundation of relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples at the bilateral and Islamic levels, since the Kingdom is one of the leading countries in joint Islamic action and for his continued support to the Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan from independence to today, as well as the comprehensive services it provides to pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and major projects in holy places.
The leadership of the two brotherly countries in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has been striving for more than seven decades to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, based on the commitment of the two sides to moderation in their political approach, openness to the world and coordination. between their policies and cooperation in international forums, which has become an effective measurement in the growing pace of bilateral relations between them at various levels and has risen to the level of “strategic partnership” and strengthening their relations in all political, military, security, social and development fields to serve the interests of the two brotherly peoples and the Islamic nation.
The Saudi-Pakistan Partnership plays an active role in addressing the challenges facing the Islamic nation around the world as founding members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in addition to their efforts to ensure regional and global peace and security, committed to continuing to fight extremism and terrorism , and the international community’s support for them in fulfilling their obligations under the concerted international effort to combat it.
The leadership of both countries hope to use all available channels to expand bilateral trade and investment and encourage communication between the two peoples and between businessmen under the Saudi-Pakistani Coordination Council to promote bilateral trade, in addition to supporting military and security cooperation.
The aspects of support between the two sides are identical in order to capitalize on their capabilities, so it was emphasized that the Kingdom Vision 2030 is conducive to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in various fields, especially in the economy and tourism, at a time when the Kingdom appreciates the efforts of the Islamabad government to develop economic and social structure in their country, as well as the opportunities of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a contribution to the development and prosperity in the region.
The Kingdom is interested in the development and prosperity of Pakistan as the Saudi Development Fund has provided a lot of development assistance, including the provision of 20 development loans to help finance the implementation of 17 development projects in the sectors of energy, dams, water, sanitation, transport and infrastructure in the amount of 3 .5 billion rials, as well as the provision of financing and export guarantees in the amount of 17.6 billion rials. Financing support for Pakistan’s imports of Saudi oil products in the amount of 270 million and the allocation of three grants worth 1.250 billion rials to finance reconstruction and rehabilitation. projects for earthquake-hit areas, in addition to ongoing additional support to Pakistan through the King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Aid Center to deal with the devastating effects of earthquakes.
Based on the guidance of wise leadership – may God help him – the Center for Humanitarian Aid and Assistance to King Salman has implemented 147 projects until March 31, 2022 AD for a total of $141,494,172, including 35 projects in the field of food security, 34 projects in housing and non-food sectors, as well as 29 health projects, 18 education projects, 13 water and environmental sanitation projects, 8 philanthropic projects, 8 projects in multiple sectors, one nutrition project, and the same number in areas of early recovery. .
“Kingdom Vision 2030” is valued and respected by many influential Pakistani leaders as it is a quantum leap in the mature political thinking of Saudi Arabia, reflecting the moderate approach of Islam and enshrining the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, as well as providing opportunities and opportunities for the two countries to enter into partnerships and investment alliances within the vision initiatives.
The two countries have transformed this strategic relationship into an extensive exchange of visits, which has led to the strengthening of these relations on the one hand, and the achievement of common interests that benefit the region on the other. In Pakistan, when he was the crown prince, he described – yes God help him – as part of the historical and close relations between the two countries, and confirmation of the common desire of the leadership of the two countries to strengthen and develop all aspects of relations at the bilateral level in a way that promotes common interests and meets the aspirations of the two fraternal peoples, as well as for consultations and coordination on issues of common interest at the regional and international levels, leading to serving the two countries and enhancing their role in maintaining security and peace and supporting development at the regional and international levels, in particular serving Islamic issues and interests and strengthening the role of Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques ended with meetings with His Excellency President Mamnoon Hussein, then President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and senior Pakistani officials to review bilateral cooperative relations and ways to support and develop them in all fields. At the same time, the official Pakistani media described this visit as a historic one, noting its importance, which confirms the desire of the two countries to strengthen and develop bilateral relations at various levels.
In order to strengthen the policies of the two brotherly countries and work together to achieve their goals and direct their efforts to resolve various Islamic and international issues, the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense — God bless him — led a delegation in Pakistan in 2019. High-ranking ministers and businessmen confirm that bilateral relations are based on the principle of Islamic solidarity and that they are a model for other countries. follow given the steady development it has seen throughout its existence, which has benefited both countries.
This station emerged from the process of joint cooperation between “Riyadh and Islamabad” to demonstrate the solid foundation laid by the founders of the two countries on the basis of “honesty, mutual understanding and mutual respect”, the future of which will strengthen the Joint Coordination Council. develop bilateral relations and make them institutional relations in various fields and bring them to a wider horizon.
This visit gave an impetus to the development of economic relations: both sides signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding, as a result of which the total investment opportunities exceeded $ 20 billion, which contributes to an increase in mutual investment and trade exchange between the two countries. fraternal countries.
In May 2021, HRH Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, received Imran Khan, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, at the Royal Court at the Peace Palace in Jeddah, where they held a session of negotiations to strengthen bilateral relations and signed an agreement on the establishment of the Supreme Saudi-Pakistani Coordinating Council, and signed two agreements and two memorandums of understanding.
The work of the Saudi-Pakistani High Coordination Council represents the starting point in the process of Saudi-Pakistani relations, and the Council reflects the desire of the two leaders to institutionalize and formalize relations, take them to a wider horizon in all areas and introduce political, economic, investment, defense and military initiatives within the framework of complementary strategic cooperation in line with the aspirations of the two countries to build a long-term strategic partnership.
The private sector of the two countries has huge investment and trade opportunities in various sectors, including mining, petrochemical, food, medical, etc. The Kingdom is committed to removing obstacles to the development of trade exchanges between the two countries and supports efforts to develop economic, trade and tourism relations and expand opportunities partnerships in various fields in proportion to the size of the two countries, their regional and international position and their great potential.
Mutual visits by the leaders of the two fraternal countries contributed to the strengthening of relations between them, especially bilateral agreements in a number of political, educational, economic, investment and other areas.
In support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Initiative, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan attended the Green Middle East Initiative Summit held in Riyadh in October 2021.
In addition to this outstanding relationship, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated the King Abdulaziz Mosque in Mansira City and the King Fahd Mosque in Muzaffarabad City in November 2021 AD to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.