Pakistan and Italy have formalized an agreement that eliminates visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, marking a significant step in their diplomatic relations. The accord was signed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy, Ali Javed, and Italy’s Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, during a ceremony hosted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.
Prior to the signing, the two diplomats engaged in discussions covering the entire scope of bilateral cooperation and collaboration in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the European Union. Both parties expressed satisfaction with the depth and increasing momentum of their strategic partnership, describing the agreement as a testament to mutual trust and friendship. They emphasized that this arrangement will facilitate smoother diplomatic exchanges and further enhance bilateral engagement.
Currently, Pakistan and Italy enjoy a comprehensive framework of cooperation. This includes 21 memorandums of understanding between universities and think tanks, as well as 15 governmental agreements spanning tourism, culture, science and technology, sports, higher defense studies, and anti-drug trafficking efforts. Notably, the two nations signed a defense cooperation agreement in 2009, established a Strategic Engagement Plan between their foreign ministers in 2013, and formed a Joint Economic Commission in 2005.
Other significant treaties include a 1997 investment protection treaty, a dual citizenship agreement from 1983, and an extradition treaty dating back to 1972. In a recent development, Pakistan and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding on labor mobility and migration in Islamabad on May 7, 2025. This landmark agreement is Pakistan’s first labor deal with a European country, enabling Pakistani workers to compete for a quota of 10,500 jobs in Italy.
During the meeting, Ambassador Javed extended an invitation from Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary to Ambassador Guariglia to visit Pakistan for the seventh round of Bilateral Political Consultations, proposing the final quarter of 2026 for the event. Additionally, the ambassador expressed interest in inaugurating Italy’s newly constructed embassy in Islamabad, described as Italy’s largest diplomatic mission abroad, highlighting the importance of the bilateral relationship.
