Islamabad, June 1, 2026: Italy and Pakistan have developed a broad-based strategic partnership spanning migration, trade, culture, education, climate action, security and development cooperation, Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Marilina Armellin said on the occasion of Italy’s National Day, as she highlighted the growing strength of bilateral ties and expressed confidence in their future expansion.
In her message marking the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, Ambassador Armellin noted that Italy celebrates the historic June 2, 1946 referendum through which Italians chose a republican system of government. She also recalled that the vote marked the first national election in which Italian women were allowed to participate.
The ambassador, who is the first woman envoy appointed by Italy to Pakistan since diplomatic relations were established in 1948, said the two countries have built a partnership over nearly eight decades based on mutual respect, shared values, economic cooperation and active engagement in multilateral forums.
She said bilateral relations have become increasingly structured and institutionally anchored following the sixth round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries in 2025. Italy considers Pakistan an important partner for regional stability and supports multilateral approaches to addressing global challenges, with a focus on economic diplomacy and sustainable development.
Ambassador Armellin also acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran, noting that the role was recognized during a recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She further highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the two countries on United Nations reforms through the Uniting for Consensus group, as well as growing parliamentary and judicial exchanges.
Migration remains a cornerstone of Pakistan-Italy relations, with Italy hosting the largest Pakistani-origin community in the European Union.
The ambassador said a major breakthrough was achieved during the visit of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to Pakistan in May 2025, when the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Migration and Labour Mobility and agreed to establish a Joint Committee to combat transnational organized crime.
She announced that Italy has allocated a dedicated quota of 10,500 work permits for Pakistani citizens during the 2026–2028 period for individuals who secure employment offers in Italy. Both countries are also working on a “Skill Passport” framework aimed at aligning the professional and language skills of Pakistani youth with labour market requirements in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, information technology and advanced engineering.
The ambassador said commercial relations have strengthened significantly since the opening of the Italian Trade Agency office in Islamabad in 2023. She credited the Pakistani diaspora in Italy for helping create business linkages and facilitating commercial opportunities between the two countries.
She described the April 2026 European Union–Pakistan Business Forum as further evidence of growing economic engagement, noting that many Italian companies participated in the event.
According to Armellin, Pakistan continues to benefit from a strong trade surplus with Italy under the European Union’s GSP+ trade scheme. She encouraged greater participation by Pakistani companies in Italian trade exhibitions and said continued macroeconomic reforms and stability in Pakistan are attracting increasing interest from Italian investors.
Italian businesses are particularly interested in industrial technology transfer, agribusiness, manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, food production and hospitality, she added.
The ambassador also pointed to the growing presence of Italian companies in Pakistan’s healthcare, construction and industrial sectors, saying recent reductions in customs duties could further stimulate bilateral business activity and support Pakistan’s efforts to diversify exports beyond textiles.
Highlighting educational cooperation, Armellin said Italy remains committed to supporting Pakistani students seeking higher education opportunities. She noted that Italian universities offer affordable tuition fees, scholarships, English-language degree programmes and internationally recognized qualifications, particularly in engineering, design, architecture and agriculture.
She expressed confidence that the Pakistani diaspora in Italy could play an even greater role in strengthening business, cultural and social connections between the two countries.
The ambassador paid special tribute to the longstanding cultural partnership between Italy and Pakistan, particularly in archaeology and heritage conservation.
She recalled that renowned Italian scholar Giuseppe Tucci established the Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan in 1955 at the invitation of the former ruler of Swat, laying the foundation for decades of cooperation in the excavation, restoration and study of Gandharan civilization and Pakistan’s archaeological heritage.
The Swat Museum, rebuilt through Italian-Pakistani collaboration, stands as a lasting symbol of this partnership, while joint efforts have also contributed to preserving archaeological sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, including Banbhore.
She highlighted the launch of the “Khyber PATH” project in 2026, which aims to connect cultural heritage preservation with ecotourism, local employment and sustainable development.
Italy remains one of Pakistan’s key development partners, with 17 active initiatives worth approximately €169.5 million focused on inclusive growth, climate resilience, water management, disaster-risk reduction and renewable energy.
Among the flagship projects, Armellin cited the “Scale-Up Olive Culture” programme, which has expanded olive cultivation to more than 6.9 million trees across 60 districts and contributed to the formulation of Pakistan’s first National Olive Policy in 2025.
She also highlighted the Economic Transformation Initiative in Gilgit-Baltistan, co-financed with IFAD, which supports around 40,000 farmers through improved rural infrastructure and agricultural value chains.
Referring to Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, the ambassador said Italy is working closely with Pakistan on climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives, including projects to modernize brick kilns in Punjab to reduce carbon emissions and improve workplace safety.
As her diplomatic tenure in Pakistan draws to a close this month, Ambassador Armellin expressed optimism about the future of Pakistan-Italy relations and praised the efforts of diplomatic teams in Islamabad and Karachi to further deepen cooperation.
“Pakistan and Italy share a strong and enduring friendship built on common values, economic partnership and people-to-people ties,” she said, expressing confidence that bilateral relations will continue to expand in the years ahead.
Concluding her message, the ambassador declared: “Viva la Repubblica Italiana” and “Pak-Italy dosti zindabad.”
