Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
Islamabad: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen strategic defence cooperation as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili in Islamabad. The high-level meeting, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, focused on operationalizing the landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed during PM recent visit to Riyadh.
PM hailed the accord as a “milestone” in Pakistan Saudi Arabia relations, emphasizing joint military training, exercises and professional exchanges. He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism and extremism alongside the Kingdom, calling the partnership a cornerstone of Islamabad’s foreign and security policy. General Al-Ruwaili conveyed greetings from Saudi leadership and pledged to elevate defence collaboration to new heights. The agreement, signed in September, declares that aggression against either country will be considered aggression against both, underscoring its importance amid regional tensions.
Separately, Prime Minister Sharif directed urgent reforms in the Export Development Fund (EDF) to boost Pakistan’s exports. He ordered a third-party audit, abolition of the Export Development Surcharge and strict utilization of EDF for research, skill development and modern facilities. Stressing facilitation for exporters, PM urged the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to play a proactive role in promoting Pakistani products globally.
