Pakistan and Saudi Arabia abolish visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders, bolstering bilateral ties and high-level exchanges.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to eliminate visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official, and special passports, aiming to streamline high-level engagement between the two nations. The accord was signed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
- ▪Agreement eliminates visas for diplomatic, official, and special passport holders, cutting bureaucratic friction between the countries
- ▪Signed during UN General Assembly in New York; part of broader deepening of Pakistan-Saudi bilateral ties
- ▪DPM Dar said the move will “further facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges” in their strategic partnership
- ▪Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also signed a joint defence pact in August alongside Turkey, pledging mutual security support
- ▪Agricultural deal reached same year targets $3 billion in Pakistani food exports to Saudi Arabia
- ▪Saudi Arabia previously eased Umrah visa rules with multiple entries over one year; also relaxed tourist visa requirements for Pakistanis
- ▪In separate meeting, Dar condemned recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistani solidarity with the kingdom
- ▪Both nations discussed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which treats attack on one member as attack on all
- ▪Pakistan has pledged unconditional support to defend Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Saudi targets
Source: according to media reports
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