Saudi Arabia has signalled interest in investing in Balochistan's minerals, energy, agriculture and industrial sectors, and in opening jobs in the kingdom for the province's skilled workforce.
The interest was conveyed by Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, at a meeting in Karachi with a senior Balochistan government delegation. He was accompanied by a 10-member Saudi business delegation. The Balochistan side was led by Bilal Khan Kakar, vice chairman of the Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade.
The Saudi visitors were briefed on projects including a low-BTU gas-based urea fertiliser complex, a ferrochrome plant, the Lasbela industrial estate, the blue economy, olive cultivation, livestock, and minerals and energy schemes. Prince Mansour said he was committed to joining projects ready for launch and promised to speed up efforts to create jobs in Saudi Arabia for skilled workers from the province, calling it a "special gift" to the Balochistan government.
Kakar said Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti wanted to turn Balochistan into a national and international hub for investment and trade, adding that the board would help Saudi investors identify suitable projects and support them throughout the process.