Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen their digital investment and technology partnerships, aiming to help Pakistani startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access the Saudi market. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Saudi Deputy Investment Minister, Ibrahim Almubarak, at LEAP 2025 in Riyadh.
The discussions focused on fostering business-to-business (B2B) collaborations, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and fintech. Shaza Fatima reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly digital ecosystem to attract global stakeholders. Saudi Arabia expressed confidence in Pakistan’s skilled workforce and technological advancements, with an emphasis on the potential for cross-border venture capital investments to drive global opportunities for Pakistani startups.
The two sides also explored ways to simplify licensing and registration processes for Pakistani companies entering the Saudi market. They agreed to enhance joint research and development (R&D) initiatives and to digitize the degree attestation process for Pakistani professionals seeking opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Shaza Fatima emphasized that stronger digital economic cooperation between the two countries would be crucial for regional growth and innovation.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia introduced a new visit visa policy for 14 countries, including Pakistan, as part of measures to prevent illegal Hajj pilgrimages. This new policy, which limits visitors to single-entry visas, took effect from February 1, 2025.
