NEW YORK: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports, in a move aimed at further facilitating high-level engagement between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

In a post on X, Dar said he hoped the agreement would further facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and contribute to strengthening their strategic partnership across areas of mutual interest.

The two countries maintain close bilateral ties and have continued frequent high-level diplomatic exchanges. On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye also signed a joint defence agreement aimed at strengthening collective security, expanding defence cooperation and promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

The two countries also agreed later in August to increase Pakistani agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion. The understanding was reached during a visit to Pakistan by a Saudi delegation led by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley.

Saudi Arabia also introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa in July with one-year validity from the date of issuance, allowing pilgrims to enter the kingdom multiple times, subject to a cumulative stay of up to 90 days each year.

In another measure announced in 2024, Saudi Arabia eased tourist visa requirements for Pakistani travellers, allowing applicants to submit a bank statement showing a minimum monthly credit amount of $750 or its equivalent.

Dar, Saudi FM discuss Makkah defence agreement

Separately, Dar held a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during which he expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned recent attacks against the kingdom, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under the pact while working to promote regional peace, stability and security.

Under the agreement, an armed attack against one member state is to be treated as an attack against all member states.

The two sides also stressed the importance of maintaining regular high-level exchanges and close coordination on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.