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KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday reaffirmed commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with �������� as the Kingdom marked its 95th National Day, with a special ceremony scheduled to be held in Islamabad.

Pakistan and �������� have close religious, cultural, diplomatic and strategic ties, particularly in trade and defense. The Kingdom is home to over two million Pakistani expatriates, who are the largest source of remittances to the South Asian country.

This year, the Saudi National Day, which is celebrated each year on Sept. 23 to commemorate the proclamation of the Kingdom of �������� in 1932 by King Abdulaziz, follows the signing of a ‘Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement’ between Pakistan and the Kingdom.

Under the pact, aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both. The deal, sealed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to the Kingdom this month, is meant to enhance joint deterrence and deepen decades of military and security cooperation.

“The Pakistani people cannot forget the economic cooperation of ��������, which supported our economy. Millions of Pakistanis consider �������� their second home, and are actively involved in its construction and development.

The services of Pakistani diaspora in �������� are the cause of cordial relations, prosperity and progress between the two brotherly countries,” PM Sharif said in his message on the day.

“Today, on the occasion of ��������’s National Day, I reiterate my resolve on behalf of Pakistan that we are determined to further strengthen this long-lasting partnership. May Allah Almighty always bless the Kingdom of �������� with progress and glory. Long live the Pak-Saudi brotherhood, long live the Kingdom of ��������.”

To mark the Saudi National Day, Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has been decorated with Saudi flags and pictures of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with PM Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, with buildings adorned with green lights symbolizing the color of the Saudi flag.

This is the first time Pakistan will be holding the Saudi National Day ceremony at the spacious Convention Center building in Islamabad on Tuesday evening, which is likely to be attended by top Pakistani government functionaries, officials of the Saudi embassy and other dignitaries.

In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari felicitated King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed and the people of �������� on their National Day.

“This day is a reminder of how, in a relatively short span of time, �������� has set remarkable examples of progress and stability under its wise and determined leadership,” he said.

The bond between Pakistan and �������� is rooted in trust, devotion and brotherhood, according to the president.

“For the people of Pakistan, our spiritual connection with the Kingdom is deepened by the presence of Islam’s two holiest sites— the Holy Ka’aba and the Masjid-e-Nabawi. This sacred link lends an enduring strength and uniqueness to our friendship,” he said.

“We take pride in the fact that in recent days our ties have reached new milestones. The fresh partnership forged in the fields of defense and security is not only a reflection of our mutual trust but also a vital step toward peace and stability in the region.”

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his warm greetings and goodwill to the Saudi leadership and the people of the Kingdom, acknowledging the deep-rooted historical and spiritual ties shared between the two brotherly nations, Pakistan’s state-run APP news agency reported.

“Under the dynamic leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, �������� has achieved remarkable milestones of progress,” Naqvi said, emphasizing that the Kingdom’s achievements are a source of pride and encouragement for Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying.

On Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah attended a Saudi National Day ceremony in Karachi, where he met Consul General Mohammed N. M. Al-Subaie and congratulated him on the occasion.

“Pakistan-�������� relations are an example in themselves for the world,” Shah was quoted as saying by his office. “The recent [defense] agreement will prove to be a milestone in security of the Muslim world.”

KARACHI/ ISLAMABAD: Massive floods in Pakistan have struck both the rural heartland and industrial centers for the first time in decades, causing billions of dollars in damage while straining food supplies, exports and a fragile economic recovery.

The government had been optimistic about 2026, penciling in 4.2 percent growth on the back of a rebound in farming and manufacturing after the economy was stabilized under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.

Instead, record monsoon rains since late June, amplified by dam releases from India, have submerged large swathes of Punjab and Sindh, the two most populous and economically vital provinces.

While waters have yet to recede in many districts, officials and analysts warn the hit could be deeper than in 2022, when a third of the country lay under water, due to dual shocks to agriculture and manufacturing.

Out on the plains, satellite images have traced the scale. A report from agricultural monitoring initiative GEOGLAM estimates at least 220,000 hectares of rice fields flooded between August 1 and September 16.

In Punjab, Pakistan’s rice, cotton and maize engine, 1.8 million acres of farmland have been inundated, according to the provincial disaster management agency.

“About 50 percent of rice, and 60 percent of cotton and maize crops have been damaged,” said Khalid Bath, chairman of the Pakistan Farmers Association.

He said losses could exceed 2.5 million acres, worth up to one trillion rupees ($3.53 billion).

“This is unlike anything we have seen in recent decades,” said Iqrar Ahmad Khan, former vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

He estimates at least a tenth of the country’s crops are destroyed, with vegetable losses topping 90 percent in some districts.

The timing is perilous: Pakistan is about to sow wheat, the crop that provides nearly half of the country’s caloric intake. National reserves remain comfortable after a strong 2024 harvest, according to Crop Monitor, but the sowing window is at risk in fields still slick with silt and mud.

“Food insecurity is coming, not just higher prices,” Khan warned.

UNDERPLAYING RISKS

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal acknowledged the floods would “set back” GDP growth and said a clearer damage tally would be ready in about two weeks.

Pakistan’s central bank said the deluge would cause a “temporary yet significant supply shock,” and it put growth near the lower end of its 3.25–4.25 percent range.

It argued the shock would be less severe than the $30 billion disaster in 2022, with stronger forex reserves and lower interest rates offering some resilience.

But prices for wheat, sugar, onions and tomatoes have jumped, pushing a sensitive price index to a 26‑month high.

IMF resident representative Mahir Binici said an upcoming review of the Extended Fund Facility this week will assess whether the 2026 fiscal year budget and emergency provisions can meet the nation’s needs. Iqbal called on the fund to “help us mitigate the damages.”

Some economists say policymakers are underplaying the risks.

“The floods will increase the current account deficit by $7 billion. They are worse than the previous floods,” former finance minister Hafeez Pasha said.

COUNTING LOSSES

In industrial cities such as Sialkot — a hub for the textiles, sporting goods and surgical equipment that underpin Pakistan’s exports — several workshops were marooned.

The hit to agriculture is also a blow for manufacturers. Industrialists say cotton shortfalls will ripple into the textile sector, the country’s top foreign exchange earner, while rice exporters warn Pakistan risks losing competitiveness to India as prices rise.

“We had 400 acres of cotton, but only 90 are left,” farmer Rab Nawaz said, near the historic city of Multan.

At least 1,006 people have been killed since June 26, the National Disaster Management Authority said, while over 2.5 million people have been evacuated in Punjab and Sindh.

In provincial capital Lahore, homes and small businesses were gutted.

Mohammad Arif, a 50‑year‑old rickshaw driver and father of five, said he moved his vehicle to higher ground as his home was inundated.

“We have been on the roads for three days,” he said.