Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Explore Downstream Industrial Projects

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are deepening economic cooperation through major industrial initiatives, including a proposed $5 billion naphtha cracker complex. Discussions led by the Saudi–Pakistan Joint Business Council and KCCI highlight opportunities in petrochemicals, energy, IT, and manufacturing to boost bilateral trade and industrial growth.

The governments and business communities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are actively exploring deeper economic collaboration, especially in industrial and downstream sectors. In a recent session of the Saudi–Pakistan Joint Business Council, Pakistan presented a pipeline of about 40 investment projects worth over US $28 billion, spanning energy, mining, IT, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure. Among these proposals is a US $5 billion naphtha cracker complex, intended to reduce the country’s reliance on imported petrochemical feedstock and enable local value-addition in plastics, chemicals, packaging, textiles, and related sectors. 

In a meeting held in Karachi, a Saudi delegation led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud met with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI). The parties discussed the feasibility of petrochemical and downstream industrial investment opportunities in Pakistan, with the KCCI stressing that a naphtha cracker would be transformative for the nation’s manufacturing capacity. KCCI officials emphasized that for such a project to be successful, key conditions like feedstock security, infrastructure, logistics, regulatory clarity, and fiscal incentives must be in place.

Amid these economic initiatives, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also signed memoranda of understanding focused on technology and youth development. These signed agreements aim to strengthen cooperation in information technology, sports, training programs, and academic-industry partnerships. Within this context, the Saudi delegation’s discussions with the KCCI also touched on investing in sectors beyond petrochemicals — including value-added textiles, agriculture, food processing, IT, and manufacturing. 

Overall, these developments signal that both countries are seeking to shift from traditional trade relationships toward deeper industrial partnerships, with strategic projects like the naphtha cracker serving as centerpieces of that vision.