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KARACHI: A top Saudi business delegation visiting Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Thursday said it was prioritizing investment in food security, energy, mining and tourism as part of Riyadh’s broader push to integrate with Pakistan’s economy and expand cooperation across key sectors.

The delegation, led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed bin Saad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, is visiting to deepen economic ties and further enhance bilateral collaboration after the two countries signed a defense pact last month, which stated that an attack on one of them would be treated as an attack on both.

“Our council is looking ... to be here in Pakistan,” he said. “Mainly, our priority is always going to be the food security.”

He maintained that the initiative to visit Pakistan was driven by Saudi leadership’s vision.

“Our leadership in �������� has instructed us to be part of Pakistan’s economy,” said the leader of the delegation.

He noted that his council was not new, with many Saudi businesses already working with local companies in Pakistan. However, he pointed out the idea was to work on the ground and strengthen partnerships that benefit both countries.

Prince Mansour said Saudi investors were also exploring opportunities in Pakistan’s energy, gas and mining sectors, as well as tourism and coastal development.

“We would like to take benefit from the beaches — you have the longest beach here in Pakistan and also in Balochistan — but in Karachi the potential is very high,” he said.

He added that Saudi investors were evaluating Pakistan’s privatization plans, including ventures in ports, airports, education and health, with the council considering establishing an institute focused on information technology and emerging technologies to tap into local expertise.

Welcoming the Saudi delegation earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the province offered some of Pakistan’s richest energy and mineral resources, along with major opportunities in food production, technology and housing.

“Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan, contributes 30 percent of the national GDP,” he said. “Sindh has the country’s richest wind and solar corridors, particularly in Jhimpir and Gharo, with a potential of over 50,000 megawatts.”

He said the Thar coal field was among the world’s largest untapped lignite reserves, while the fertile Indus basin produced rice, sugarcane, wheat and fruits.

“Opportunities exist for Saudi investors in modern farming, dairy, meat processing and halal exports,” Shah said. “With Saudi expertise in hospitality, joint ventures in heritage tourism, resorts and coastal development can create an entirely new sector of growth.”

The chief minister also highlighted Sindh’s successful Public-Private Partnership model and a $5 billion investable portfolio covering projects in energy, infrastructure and tourism.

He said both sides had agreed to establish joint working groups in priority sectors to ensure targeted follow-up.

Two memorandums of understanding were signed during the meeting, including a share-sale agreement in KES Power Ltd and a cooperation framework between K-Electric and Trident Energy Ltd to explore new investment in Pakistan’s power sector.

A statement released by the provincial administration said the engagement was in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and Sindh’s long-term plan for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a Rs90 million ($320,000) project to protect endangered sea turtles caught in shrimp trawling nets, the government said on Thursday, part of efforts to make its fishing industry more sustainable and boost seafood exports to the UD, EU and GCC countries.

The initiative, announced on Thursday by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, includes the free distribution and installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), hands-on training for trawler crews, and data monitoring to assess their impact on shrimp catch efficiency and net performance.

A Turtle Excluder Device is a specialized mechanism fitted into shrimp trawl nets that allows sea turtles and other large marine animals to escape while retaining shrimp. 

“Pakistan currently sells shrimp at a comparatively low rate of about $2 per kilogram,” Chaudhry was quoted as saying in a statement by the Press Information Department. 

“With TED compliance and improved international certification, the price could rise to $6 per kilogram, unlocking new opportunities in lucrative markets including the US, EU, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”

Chaudhry said the introduction of TEDs would help reduce accidental turtle capture, mitigate concerns from fishermen over shrimp loss and ensure Pakistan meets international sustainability standards. He added that Pakistan’s shrimp exports currently stand at around $100 million annually. TED compliance and continued adherence to international standards could, he said, triple export volumes and expand access to premium markets in the US, GCC, and Europe.

The minister said the project aligns with Pakistan’s commitments on marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable fishing, enhancing the country’s credibility in global seafood trade. 

“This initiative will showcase Pakistan’s commitment to responsible marine resource management, enhancing its reputation in global seafood trade,” Chaudhry said, warning that non-compliance could risk future export restrictions: 

“One hundred percent TED compliance and credible enforcement will be ensured. Continued non-compliance risks further deterioration of Pakistan’s seafood exports under international traceability regimes.” 

Pakistan already exports shrimp and other seafood products to several GCC countries, including the United Arab Emirates, �������� and Oman, which account for a significant share of its seafood trade. The government hopes that improved certification and traceability measures will further strengthen this foothold in Gulf markets.

In August 2025, the United States lifted its four-year ban on Pakistani seafood imports after a US inspection team found that the country’s fisheries now meet American standards for protecting marine mammals during fishing operations. The decision restored access to one of the world’s largest seafood markets, valued at over $6 billion annually, and is expected to significantly boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings.

The new sea turtle protection project, Chaudhry said, will help sustain that access and demonstrate Pakistan’s long-term compliance with global sustainability standards. 

The initiative is being supported by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association (PAKFEA), the Sindh Trawler Owners and Fisheries Association (STOFA) and the Karachi Fish Harbor Authority, among others.