Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have committed to enhancing digital investment and technology collaborations. This partnership aims to support Pakistani startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) penetrating the Saudi market.
According to a news release, the agreement was reached during a discussion between Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Saudi Deputy Investment Minister Ibrahim Almubarak at the sidelines of LEAP 2025.
The talks centred on developing business-to-business (B2B) collaborations, particularly in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and fintech. Minister Shaza Fatima reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to building an investor-friendly digital ecosystem to attract global stakeholders.
Read: Saudi Arabia Announces Online Iqama Renewal for Expatriates Outside the Kingdom
In response, Saudi Arabia acknowledged the potential of Pakistan’s skilled workforce and technological prowess, underscoring opportunities for cross-border venture capital investments to benefit Pakistani startups globally.
The discussions also covered strategies to streamline licensing and registration for Pakistani companies entering the Saudi market and enhancing joint research and development (R&D) initiatives. Further, they agreed to digitize the degree attestation process to facilitate Pakistani professionals seeking opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Minister Shaza Fatima emphasized that robust digital economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia drives regional growth and innovation.
Concurrently, Saudi Arabia has revised its visit visa policy for 14 countries, including Pakistan. The country has suspended the issuance of one-year multiple-entry visas for tourism, business, and family visits and now offers only single-entry visas.
This policy change, effective from February 1, 2025, aims to prevent illegal Hajj practices. Previously, some individuals exploited long-term visit visas to circumvent the official pilgrimage quotas. The affected countries include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. This measure is intended to ensure adherence to the official Hajj protocols.
