Italy has announced the allocation of 10,500 work visas specifically for Pakistan’s skilled labor force, signaling a significant move to encourage legal migration. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi shared this development during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi, in Rome.

In addition to the work visas, Italian authorities have agreed to grant visa-free entry to holders of Pakistani diplomatic passports. This decision follows a request from Minister Naqvi and previous discussions on the matter.

Minister Naqvi updated his Italian counterpart on Pakistan’s intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration networks. He highlighted that stricter monitoring at airports and maritime borders has led to a notable decrease in illegal departures from Pakistan.

Minister Piantedosi commended Pakistan’s recent initiatives and the effectiveness of its institutions in tackling human smuggling, drug trafficking, and irregular migration. Both nations expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas of security, counter-narcotics, and law enforcement. They agreed to enhance coordination against transnational criminal organizations and to further expand opportunities for legal migration.

The meeting was characterized as productive, emphasizing a shared goal of curbing illegal immigration while facilitating legal mobility between the two countries.

In parallel, Minister Naqvi also met with Greece’s Minister for Migration and Asylum, Athanasios Plevris. This discussion also focused on bolstering cooperation against illegal immigration and human smuggling, with both ministers agreeing to implement joint measures to disrupt unlawful migration networks and improve institutional coordination.

A significant outcome of the meeting with Greece was the agreement to finalize a long-pending bilateral migration cooperation agreement, which has been under discussion for two years. A Joint Working Group will be established to implement future cooperation frameworks.

Minister Naqvi welcomed Greece’s commitment to enhancing the professional capabilities of Pakistan’s police and paramilitary forces, particularly in technology-driven operations. He stressed the importance of expanding legal migration pathways as a means to deter illegal routes.

Both ministers reiterated their countries’ dedication to promoting legal migration and combating illegal immigration and human smuggling through robust collaboration.