Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports, a move aimed at facilitating official travel and institutional exchanges between the two countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, signed the agreement in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Dar announced the agreement in a post on X, saying the arrangement would facilitate high-level engagements and institutional exchanges between Islamabad and Riyadh.
Under the agreement, holders of diplomatic and official or special passports will no longer be required to obtain visas for travel between the two countries. The facility does not extend to ordinary passport holders.
FM Dar said the agreement would contribute to strengthening what he described as the two countries’ longstanding strategic partnership across areas of mutual interest.
The agreement comes amid growing diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh and efforts by the two countries to expand cooperation in political, economic and other areas.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close high-level contacts in recent months, with their leadership discussing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a telephone conversation earlier this month, agreed to remain in close contact on regional developments.
The latest arrangement is expected to simplify official travel and facilitate greater interaction between government institutions of the two countries.
