Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Monday, called for further strengthening Pakistan-Italy relations, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture, labour mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
Talking to Ambassador of Italy Ugo Ciarlatani, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Gilani said Pakistan attaches great importance to its longstanding and friendly relations with Italy, based on mutual respect and expanding cooperation in diverse fields.
He expressed confidence that Ambassador Ciarlatani would contribute to further strengthening bilateral relations during his tenure, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release.
Gilani said Pakistan looked forward to welcoming Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to Pakistan, noting that this visit would provide opportunities to further advance bilateral cooperation.
Highlighting the economic relationship, the acting president said there was considerable potential for further expanding bilateral trade and investment. He welcomed the presence of Italian companies in Pakistan and encouraged greater Italian investment in areas of mutual interest.
He also congratulated Ambassador Ciarlatani on the completion of Italy’s new diplomatic mission in Islamabad.
Gilani acknowledged Italy’s cooperation in technical and vocational fields, including the Pakistan-Italy Textile Centre in Faisalabad and the Footwear Centre in Lahore, as well as cooperation in scientific and environmental fields.
He welcomed the educational opportunities available to Pakistani students in Italy and highlighted the importance of the Pakistan-Italy MoU on workforce, labour migration and mobility in facilitating safe, orderly and legal migration.
He also welcomed the recruitment of 10,500 skilled workers from Pakistan by Italy over the next three years, saying that labour mobility would further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
He thanked Italy for its support for Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-26 term and said Pakistan looks forward to continued coordination with Italy at the United Nations and other multilateral fora.
Italian Ambassador Ugo Ciarlatani, who recently assumed his responsibilities in Islamabad, said that his priorities during his tenure would be to further improve bilateral relations and increase Italian investment in Pakistan.
He said he was pleased to have taken up his assignment in Pakistan at a time when Pakistan was playing an important role in promoting security and peace in the region.
He noted that around 300,000 people of Pakistani origin were living, working and studying in Italy and were contributing to promoting stronger relations between the two countries.
