ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in information, broadcasting, media, culture and public engagement, with a particular focus on promoting cultural exchanges and expanding collaboration between media professionals and content creators.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Raja bin Thamer Al-Baqmi in Islamabad.
The minister welcomed the Saudi envoy and congratulated him on his appointment.
During the meeting, Tarar highlighted the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, describing their relationship as rooted in shared history, religious bonds and strong people-to-people connections.
He said bilateral relations were reaching new heights, with significant opportunities for cooperation in media, culture, television dramas, music and tourism.
The minister emphasized the importance of introducing Pakistani television dramas to Saudi audiences, noting that Pakistani productions reflect family values, Eastern traditions and Islamic culture.
He also proposed exchanging delegations of writers, poets, artists, musicians, journalists and digital content creators to strengthen cultural understanding between the two countries.
Referring to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and economic transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Tarar highlighted tourism developments in AlUla and efforts to preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of Diriyah.
He also underscored the need for cooperation in countering misinformation and negative propaganda, strengthening fact-checking mechanisms and producing content that reflects the shared cultural values of both nations.
To advance these objectives, he proposed establishing a joint working group comprising focal persons and technical teams from both countries.
The minister further invited Saudi media representatives, tourists and digital influencers to visit Pakistan and explore its diverse tourist destinations, historical landmarks and natural attractions.
Highlighting the role of social media in public awareness campaigns, Tarar informed the Saudi ambassador that a social media post about the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme had received more than eight million views.
He also recalled the sacrifice of Pakistani national Farman Ali Khan, who lost his life while rescuing people during the 2009 floods in Jeddah, describing his actions as a symbol of friendship, compassion and brotherhood between the two nations.
The minister said the bilateral defence agreement reflected the strength of the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
For his part, Saudi Ambassador Raja bin Thamer Al-Baqmi described the relations between the two countries as a source of pride, founded on mutual trust, respect and close political and military cooperation.
He emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration in cultural events, arts, literature and media.
Both sides expressed their commitment to exploring new avenues of cooperation and further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.