Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are taking a significant step toward creating a CPEC-style economic corridor. The plan aims to boost trade, investment, and connectivity between South Asia and the Middle East.
This move follows last month’s Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted the visit.
A High-Level Team to Drive Progress
To move things forward, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed an 18-member high-level committee. The group will lead talks under the new Pakistan-Saudi Economic Framework.
According to the government notification, the committee will:
“Expand cooperation beyond defense and energy to include environmental protection and climate stability.”
Senator Musadik Masood Malik and Lt. Gen. Sarfraz Ahmed will co-chair the team. Malik serves as the Federal Minister for Climate Change, while Ahmed is the National Coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
Other members include key ministers from the Economic Affairs, Commerce, IT, Food Security, and Communications ministries. Senior officials from the State Bank, FBR, SECP, and Pakistan’s embassy in Riyadh are also part of the team.
The committee will begin work today, October 6, 2025. Travel approvals for talks will be processed “within one hour” to speed things up. The SIFC will handle coordination. Progress reports will be submitted to the Prime Minister every 15 days.
Trade, Investment, and a Shared Vision
Pakistan plans to attract Saudi investment in oil, agriculture, and infrastructure under a “buy-back” model. It also hopes to cut the USD 3 billion trade deficit that currently favors Saudi Arabia. The long-delayed oil refinery project is back on the agenda. Prime Minister Sharif is expected to visit Riyadh later this month to finalize new deals.
Analysts believe this initiative blends security and economics. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 focuses on diversification. Pakistan, meanwhile, needs fresh investment to revive its economy.
If executed well, this corridor could transform regional trade routes and create new opportunities. It may position Pakistan as a vital bridge between the Gulf and South Asia.