{
  "id": 9089863,
  "title": "Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign agreement to abolish visa requirements for diplomatic, official passport holders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/pakistan-saudi-arabia-sign-agreement-to-abolish-visa-requirements-for-9089863",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T05:23:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2031777/pakistan-saudi-arabia-sign-agreement-to-abolish-visa-requirements-for-diplomatic-official-passport-holders"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Tuesday, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia inked a deal to do away with visa mandates for those carrying diplomatic, official, and special passports. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar inked the pact alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Dar expressed optimism that the move would \"enhance high-level engagement and institutional exchanges, and bolster our enduring and brotherly strategic partnership across all areas of shared interest.\"\n\nThe two nations boast strong bilateral ties, with frequent high-level diplomatic interactions on both sides. In August, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, alongside Turkiye, inked a joint defence pact, vowing to heighten collective security, reinforce defence cooperation, and promote peace and stability regionally and globally. Later that month, the two nations pledged to double Pakistani agricultural and food exports to the Gulf state to $3 billion.\n\nThe agreement was hammered out during a visit by a Saudi delegation led by Environment, Water, and Agriculture Minister Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadley. In July, Saudi Arabia introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa, valid for one year, allowing pilgrims to visit the kingdom multiple times with a total stay of up to 90 days annually. In 2024, Riyadh further eased visa requirements for Pakistani tourists, permitting them to submit a bank statement showing a minimum monthly credit of $750 or its equivalent.\n\nDuring a separate meeting with Saudi FM, Dar reiterated Pakistan's solidarity with Saudi Arabia, denouncing recent strikes on the country. The Houthis have recently launched attacks on Saudi Arabia as the US-Israeli war on Iran spills over into a broader conflict. The foreign ministers also talked about the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, reiterating their \"commitment to strengthening cooperation under the Agreement and advancing regional peace, stability, and security.\"",
  "summary": "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on Tuesday to abolish visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, he said in a post on X. DPM Dar hoped the step would “further facilitate…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Chronicle Ghana",
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/saudi-arabia-confirms-yemens-houthi-rebels-tried-to-attack-its",
        "published": "2026-09-22T01:02:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "UK to provide military aid to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks: ‘Agreed to air-to-air refuelling’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/uk-to-provide-military-aid-to-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks-agreed",
        "published": "2026-09-22T02:24:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign agreement to abolish visa requirements for diplomatic, official passport holders",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/pakistan-saudi-arabia-sign-agreement-to-abolish-visa-requirements-for",
        "published": "2026-09-22T05:08:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}