Pakistani and Saudi citizens holding diplomatic, official or special passports will no longer need visas to travel between the two countries under a new agreement signed by Islamabad and Riyadh.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed the agreement in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session.
Visa Waiver Covers Official Travel
Under the new arrangement, Pakistani citizens travelling to Saudi Arabia on diplomatic or official passports will not need to obtain visas.
The agreement also covers Saudi nationals travelling to Pakistan with diplomatic, official or special passports. The waiver is specifically aimed at official passport holders and does not extend to ordinary passport holders.
Dar announced the agreement on X, describing it as a step that would facilitate high-level contacts and institutional exchanges between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He said the arrangement would also support the two countries’ strategic partnership and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Deepen Economic Ties
The visa agreement comes as Islamabad and Riyadh continue efforts to expand bilateral economic and institutional cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said last month that Pakistan wanted to develop its economic relationship with Saudi Arabia into a strategic economic partnership.
A high-level Saudi business delegation has also explored investment opportunities in Pakistan, including agriculture, ports, infrastructure, energy, power distribution, real estate and information technology.
The two countries have also continued to strengthen their defence and security cooperation.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, establishing a framework for cooperation on collective security. A trilateral committee created under the agreement subsequently held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul.
Easier Movement for Government Officials
The agreement is expected to make official travel easier for diplomats, government officials and other eligible passport holders moving between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
With visas no longer required for these passport categories, the arrangement could also make high-level meetings and institutional exchanges between Islamabad and Riyadh more convenient.
