Islamabad — Pakistan and Italy have taken a major step forward in their bilateral relationship by signing an agreement to eliminate visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports.
According to Beyond Time News, the accord was signed at a ceremony held at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy Ali Javed and Italian Foreign Affairs Secretary General Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia.
Before the signing, both diplomats held one-on-one talks covering the full scope of bilateral relations and cooperation at international platforms including the United Nations and European Union.
What the Agreement Means
Both sides expressed strong satisfaction with the growing depth and direction of their strategic cooperation. Officials described the visa-free accord as a reflection of mutual trust and friendship — and an excellent addition to the existing framework of bilateral agreements.
The deal is expected to ease the movement of diplomatic delegations between the two countries and further strengthen government-to-government engagement.
A Deep-Rooted Relationship
This latest agreement adds to an already strong foundation. According to Beyond Time News, Pakistan and Italy currently have 15 government-to-government agreements covering areas such as tourism, culture, science and technology, sports, higher defence studies, and anti-narcotics cooperation. An additional 21 MoUs exist between universities and think tanks of both nations.
Key existing frameworks include the Defence Cooperation Accord of 2009, the Strategic Engagement Plan of 2013, and the Joint Economic Commission established in 2005. Older treaties include the Investment Protection Treaty of 1997, the Dual Citizenship Agreement of 1983, and the Extradition Treaty of 1972.
Pakistan and Italy Strengthen Diplomatic Relations with New Visa Exemption Agreement
Historic Labour Mobility Deal
In a landmark development, the two countries signed an MoU on Labour Mobility and Migration in Islamabad on May 7, 2025 — making it Pakistan’s first-ever labour agreement with a European nation. The deal opens up 10,500 Pakistan-specific jobs in Italy, offering significant economic opportunities for Pakistani workers.
What’s Next
Ambassador Ali Javed extended a formal invitation to the Italian Secretary General to visit Pakistan for the 7th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations, expressing readiness to host the talks in the last quarter of 2026.
The visit would also mark the inauguration of Italy’s newly built embassy in Islamabad — set to be Italy’s largest diplomatic mission anywhere in the world — a clear signal of how seriously Rome views its relationship with Islamabad.
