Agreements are the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at expanding Pakistan-Saudi cooperation across multiple sectors
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on security cooperation, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) signed a separate agreement to develop an international cricket stadium in Jeddah, according to official statements issued by the Saudi authorities and the cricket federation.
The development marks the latest steps in expanding cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh, which in recent years have expanded their long-standing strategic partnership beyond traditional political and defense ties to include internal security, investment, sports, tourism and institutional cooperation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, in Riyadh, where the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral security cooperation before signing the MoU.
Prince Abdulaziz announced the development on X and said the agreement was reached according to the directives of the leadership of the two countries.
“According to the directives of the leadership, I met today with my brother, His Excellency the Minister of Interior and Minister of Narcotics Control of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Mohsin Raza Naqvi, where we reaffirmed our joint commitment to strengthen security cooperation between our two countries and signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of security,” he wrote.
The Saudi minister described the agreement as reflecting “the strength of the strategic partnership and the depth of the long-standing relations between the Kingdom and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Separately, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation announced on X that it had signed a strategic MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board to support the development of an international cricket stadium in Jeddah. The agreement was signed by Naqvi in his capacity as PCB Chairman.
According to the federation, the partnership aims to establish an international standard cricket venue in Jeddah, strengthen the Kingdom’s readiness to host major international tournaments, support the development of players, coaches and match officials, expand technical cooperation and knowledge sharing, create new investment and sports tourism opportunities and advance the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The federation said the partnership’s expected results would help “promote cricket and support Saudi Vision 2030.”
The agreements are the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at deepening Pakistan-Saudi cooperation across multiple sectors, with both governments continuing to describe their relationship as a strategic partnership built on long-standing political, security, economic and people-to-people ties.
Naqvi arrived in Riyadh earlier this week on an official visit where he was received at King Khalid International Airport by Prince Abdulaziz, according to updates shared on the Pakistani minister’s official WhatsApp channel.
During the visit, Naqvi also visited Riyadh’s Unified Security Operations Center (911), where he was briefed on its operational departments, advanced technologies and the integrated coordination system linking Saudi Arabia’s security agencies, according to his office.
