Pakistan and Italy have signed an agreement that eliminates visa requirements for diplomatic passports. This move is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and easing diplomatic exchanges between the two nations.
The signing ceremony took place at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. Before the event, both ambassadors held one-on-one talks to express satisfaction with their countries’ strategic cooperation. They reviewed various aspects of their traditional cordial relationship and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the UN and EU.
Both sides viewed the agreement as a reflection of mutual trust and friendship, enhancing existing mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation. Currently, 21 MoUs exist between universities and think tanks, while 15 agreements have been concluded between governments in areas ranging from tourism to culture, science and technology, sports, higher defense studies, and drug trafficking.
The ‘Defence Cooperation’ accord was signed in 2009, followed by the ‘Strategic Engagement Plan’ in 2013. In 2005, a ‘Joint Economic Commission’ was established, and in 1997, an agreement for investment protection was reached. A dual citizenship agreement was signed in 1983, while an extradition treaty was concluded in 1972.
Last year, Pakistan and Italy finalized an MoU for labor mobility and migration, with the first labor accord between a European state and Pakistan being concluded in Islamabad. This accord allows Pakistani workers to pursue jobs in Italy, with a specific quota of 10,500 Pakistan-specific positions.
The ambassador reiterated his invitation to the Secretary General on behalf of the Foreign Secretary to visit Pakistan for the seventh round of bilateral political consultations. He expressed readiness to convene these engagements in the last quarter of 2026 and highlighted the importance of relations between Italy and Pakistan, particularly with the inauguration of the newly built Italian Embassy in Islamabad, which is Italy’s largest diplomatic mission overseas.