Islamabad: (GNP): President Asif Ali Zardari has extended felicitations to the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the people of Italy on Republic Day.
The President said that Pakistan deeply values its long-standing and friendly relations with Italy, which are marked by mutual trust, cooperation and a shared commitment to peace and prosperity. He expressed confidence that bilateral ties between the two nations will continue to grow in strength and substance in the years ahead.
President Zardari stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to its engagement with the European Union (EU) and highly values Italy’s constructive role within the EU in promoting cooperation, dialogue and international peace and stability.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-EU relations in areas of mutual interest.
Message on the Italian National Day by Marilina Armellin Ambassador of Italy to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
As Italy marks the 80th anniversary of its Republic on June 2, commemorating the landmark 1946 referendum in which the Italian people chose a republic over monarchy, the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, the first woman to hold the post since Italy recognised Pakistan shortly after its independence in 1947 and established formal diplomatic relations in 1948, has outlined the remarkable breadth of a partnership now spanning migration, trade, culture, science, defence and development cooperation.
Over the past 78 years, the bilateral relationship has grown into a broad partnership rooted in mutual respect, shared economic interests, common ethical and social values, and joint diplomatic engagement in multilateral forums.
Building on the sixth session of bilateral political consultations between the secretaries-general of both foreign ministries in 2025, the relationship has become more structured, sector-focused and institutionally anchored. Italy currently manages 17 development cooperation initiatives in Pakistan and consistently regards Islamabad as a priority partner.
Italy recognises Pakistan as an indispensable partner for regional stability and shares its preference for multilateral solutions, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy and sustainable development, in line with broader European Union priorities.
This includes Pakistan’s willingness to act as an honest broker between the United States and Iran, a point reflected at the highest level in a recent phone call between Prime Ministers Giorgia Meloni and Shehbaz Sharif.
Both countries also maintain long-standing shared positions on UN reform through the Uniting for Consensus group, advocating for a more balanced Security Council. A parliamentary friendship group has been activated and initial steps taken to strengthen judicial cooperation between the two countries.
Migration remains a cornerstone of bilateral ties. Italy hosts the largest community of Pakistani origin within the European Union. A May 2025 MoU on migration and labour mobility, signed during Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi’s visit to Islamabad, marked a significant step forward, introducing 10,500 dedicated work permits for Pakistanis covering 2026–2028.
A joint “Skill Passport” framework is also under development, designed to align the professional and linguistic skills of Pakistani youth with the evolving needs of the Italian labour market, particularly in healthcare, hospitality, information technology and advanced engineering.
A declaration was also signed establishing a Joint Committee on Preventing and Combating Transnational Organised Crime, further deepening security cooperation.
On the trade front, ties have strengthened considerably since the Italian Trade Agency opened its Islamabad office in 2023. The EU–Pakistan Business Forum, held in April 2026 and attended by numerous Italian companies, testified to the solidity of commercial relations.
Under GSP+, Pakistan continues to enjoy a strong bilateral trade surplus. Growing Italian business interest has been noted in agribusiness, green energy, manufacturing, food production, and hospitality. Recent progressive reductions in customs duties are expected to further encourage investment and help Pakistan diversify its export base beyond textiles, with Italian mechanical engineering and packaging industries well placed to meet rising demand for capital goods.
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Italy is also committed to supporting Pakistani students in pursuing tertiary education, offering affordable tuition, scholarships including regional and EU-supported grants, and globally recognised universities, particularly in engineering, design, architecture and agriculture, with a growing range of English-taught programmes available.
In cultural heritage, Italy’s Archaeological Mission in Pakistan, founded in 1955 at the initiative of the last Wali Miangul of Swat by Professor Giuseppe Tucci, celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. The Swat Museum, first opened in 1958 and rebuilt through Italian-Pakistani collaboration in 2014, stands as a lasting symbol of this shared commitment.
The newly launched “Khyber PATH” project, implemented under Professor Luca Maria Olivieri of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, now links Gandharan heritage with local professional pathways in ecotourism and sustainable development across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and at the historic site of Banbhore in Sindh, reflecting Italy’s enduring commitment to raising the global profile of Pakistan’s rich cultural legacy.
