New York (The COW News Digital)Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports, marking another step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations as well as the prevailing regional situation. Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned recent attacks targeting the Kingdom.
The ministers also discussed matters related to the defence cooperation agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, according to the information released regarding the meeting.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the two countries had signed an agreement eliminating visa requirements for diplomatic and official or special passport holders.
The agreement is expected to facilitate official travel between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia by simplifying entry procedures for eligible government representatives and officials travelling on diplomatic or designated official passports.
According to Saudi media reports, the two countries have also signed a reciprocal agreement providing exemptions from short-term residence visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders.
The development comes as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to maintain close political, economic and strategic relations. Both countries regularly coordinate on regional and international issues and have maintained high-level diplomatic engagement on matters concerning the wider Middle East and South Asia.
The latest agreement was concluded during a series of diplomatic meetings taking place in New York as world leaders and senior officials gather for the United Nations General Assembly.
Ishaq Dar’s meeting with Prince Faisal bin Farhan also provided an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on recent regional developments and discuss areas of continued cooperation.
Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of its longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh has also maintained close engagement with Islamabad across diplomatic, economic and security-related areas.
The visa waiver agreement specifically applies to eligible holders of diplomatic and official or special passports and should not be interpreted as a general visa-free travel arrangement for ordinary passport holders.
The agreement is part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional links and facilitate official exchanges between the two countries.
With both governments continuing to expand bilateral cooperation, the latest agreement is expected to make official travel more convenient for diplomats, senior government representatives and other eligible passport holders.
