Islamabad (GNP): Outgoing Italian Ambassador Marilina Armellin called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bid farewell ahead of the conclusion of her diplomatic posting in Pakistan.
DPM/FM Dar congratulated the Ambassador on a productive tenure, acknowledging her contributions to advancing the Pakistan-Italy bilateral relationship. He highlighted the tangible progress achieved across trade, investment, education, and labour mobility during her time in Islamabad, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s intent to continue building on these gains in the years ahead.
Ambassador Armellin expressed her gratitude for the cooperation and support extended to her throughout her assignment and reflected positively on the trajectory of relations between the two countries.
The DPM extended his best wishes to the Ambassador for her future endeavours.
The farewell visit comes at a high point in Pakistan-Italy relations, with the bilateral partnership having matured considerably in recent years across several key areas.
On labour mobility, Italy became the first European Union member state to allocate a structured employment quota for Pakistani workers, securing 10,500 work visas through 2028, with approximately 3,500 workers travelling annually to take up positions in sectors including healthcare, hospitality, and agriculture.
In the diplomatic sphere, the two sides finalised an agreement eliminating visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, aimed at facilitating smoother official exchanges between the two governments.
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On the trade front, bilateral economic engagement has grown considerably, with total trade volumes surpassing USD 2.3 billion. Pakistan’s exports to Italy are concentrated in textiles and food products, while Italian exports to Pakistan are led by industrial machinery and pharmaceuticals.
