Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq has stressed that the next 1-2 years are essential for Islamabad to expand its presence in the Gulf kingdom or risk losing out to competitors.
Noting the massive transformation underway in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030, he said it aimed to diversify the economy beyond oil. This had produced opportunities in the construction, information technology, healthcare, and hotels and hospitality sectors, he said during a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
“If we do not claim our share immediately, it will be taken by competitors,” he warned, adding to achieve this Pakistan must improve its workforce and train it as per Saudi requirements.
The Gulf kingdom aims to become a regional I.T. hub, explained the envoy, enabling demand for human resources and expertise. This, he said, produced space for Pakistan’s I.T. companies to provide services and products to this rapidly growing sector.
Farooq said Saudi Arabia’s focus on cultural and tourism development had also seen massive growth in the hospitality and hotel sector. Over the next decade, he noted, Saudi Arabia would host four major international events: the Asian Football Cup (2027), Asian Winter Games (2029), World Expo in Riyadh (2030), and the FIFA World Cup (2034). “To support these events, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of 250 new hotels. This expansion creates opportunities for Pakistan’s textile industry, food exports, and trained workforce in hospitality and housekeeping.”
The infrastructure development, he said, had led to a construction boom that Pakistani contractors could participate in. “Companies from around the world are securing lucrative contracts, and Pakistan must also seize this opportunity,” he emphasized, adding demand for materials such as furniture, marble, electrical cables, LED lights, and fiber optic cables was also soaring. Additionally, he said, the healthcare sector was evolving, producing openings in pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment, and medical tourism.
Hailing to the significant 40 percent increase in exports to Saudi Arabia during fiscal year 2023-24, the ambassador noted the embassy’s primary focus was promoting trade and investment. “Last year, two major Saudi business delegations visited Pakistan, which led to the signing of 34 Memorandums of Understanding worth $3 billion. Of these, MoUs worth $700 million have already entered the implementation stage, marking the beginning of a promising economic collaboration,” he added.
Farooq identified textiles, agriculture, rice, and red meat as priority sectors for Pakistani exports in Saudi Arabia. “We want large businesses to connect with local distributors in Saudi Arabia to facilitate exports. A list of key exporters in these sectors should be shared with the embassy so we can work together to strengthen trade relations,” he said.
The envoy also emphasized a rising demand for skilled manpower, noting over 97 percent of the Pakistanis currently residing in Saudi Arabia were blue-collar workers. “Saudi authorities have advised us to improve vocational training for Pakistani workers to meet the standards required for upcoming projects. The government must enhance training programs to equip workers with modern technical skills,” he added.
Earlier, KCCI President Jawed Bilwani welcomed the ambassador and acknowledged the strong trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. He noted that Saudi Arabia remained Pakistan’s largest source of remittances and extended full support and cooperation for all endeavors to promote trade and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries.