ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Italy have signed an agreement eliminating visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, marking another step forward in bilateral relations between the two countries.
The accord was signed in Rome during a ceremony held at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy, Ali Javed, and Italy’s Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments, according to an official statement.
Before the signing ceremony, the two diplomats held detailed discussions covering the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Italy relations. They also reviewed cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the European Union.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing strength of their partnership, describing bilateral cooperation as substantive, dynamic and on a steadily upward trajectory. They reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding engagement in areas of mutual interest.
Officials said the new agreement would make diplomatic exchanges more convenient by removing visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders. They described the accord as a reflection of the mutual trust, friendship and strong ties between the two countries, adding that it would further enhance existing mechanisms of cooperation.
Pakistan and Italy currently maintain 15 government-to-government agreements spanning a wide range of sectors, including tourism, culture, science and technology, sports, higher defence studies and anti-narcotics cooperation. In addition, 21 memorandums of understanding have been signed between universities and think tanks from both countries.
The statement noted that several important frameworks already underpin bilateral relations. These include the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2009, the Strategic Engagement Plan launched by the foreign ministers in 2013 and the Joint Economic Commission established in 2005. Earlier agreements include the Investment Protection Treaty of 1997, the Dual Citizenship Agreement of 1983 and the Extradition Treaty of 1972.
The two countries further strengthened cooperation on May 7, 2025, when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Mobility and Migration in Islamabad. The agreement, Pakistan’s first labour accord with a European country, provides Pakistani workers access to 10,500 jobs specifically allocated for Pakistan in Italy.
During the meetings, Ambassador Javed also conveyed an invitation from Pakistan’s foreign secretary to Ambassador Guariglia to visit Pakistan for the seventh round of Bilateral Political Consultations.
He expressed Pakistan’s readiness to host the consultations during the final quarter of 2026 and highlighted the importance Islamabad attaches to its relations with Rome. He also underscored Pakistan’s eagerness to inaugurate the newly constructed Italian Embassy in Islamabad, which is set to become Italy’s largest diplomatic mission abroad, reflecting the significance of ties between the two nations.