The Italian minister says the move is part of a broader initiative to improve bilateral cooperation on legal migration.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced on Wednesday that Italy would issue 10,500 work visas to Pakistan’s skilled workforce as part of efforts to promote legal migration, state media *Radio Pakistan* reported.
He added that the announcement was made during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Rome.
The meeting also focused on expanding cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, human trafficking and terrorism. Both ministers praised the joint efforts made to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Piantedosi emphasized that the move was part of a broader initiative to improve bilateral cooperation on legal migration. Additionally, the Italian minister revealed that Pakistani diplomatic passport holders would be exempt from Italy’s visa requirements, further strengthening ties between the two nations.
During the meeting, Naqvi briefed his Italian counterpart on Pakistan’s successful measures to combat illegal immigration, citing significant reduction in illegal migration due to increased surveillance at airports and sea borders.
Read more: Sri Lanka removes Pakistan from negative visa lists after Naqvi meeting
Piantedosi acknowledged the effectiveness of Pakistani institutions in tackling illegal immigration, human trafficking and drug smuggling. He praised Pakistan’s efforts, calling them “commendable”.
Last week, following a high-level meeting on the Spanish residency card system for overseas Pakistanis, the Spanish government announced that eligible overseas Pakistanis would initially be issued one-year residency cards in Spain.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Spain, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, gave a detailed briefing on the plan. He clarified that the policy was not intended for people seeking political asylum. The report also emphasized that applicants were required to submit a character certificate and other required documents, the statement added.
Read more: Pakistanis abroad entitled to one-year Spanish residence cards
According to officials, eligible individuals were initially issued a resident card valid for one year. After completing seven or eight years, a path to permanent residency and citizenship would be available. The document verification process was expedited to ensure that applicants did not face difficulties.
It was decided that multiple certificates would not be accepted; The National Police Office would issue a single national certificate. The verification process has been simplified and expedited to make it easier for applicants, Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi said, adding that applicants will be fully supported at every stage.
