ISLAMABAD: Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reiterated a decision made last year to issue visas to over 10,000 skilled Pakistani workers, saying that it was aimed at promoting “legal migration”.

Italy would issue 10,500 work visas for Pakistan’s skilled workers to promote “legal migration”, he said during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Rome, according to a statement issued by the interior ministry.

In December last year, an agreement was reached between Pakistan and Italy, under which the latter had allocated a labour quota for the former.

According to the agreement, 10,500 Pakis­tani workers will be provided employment in various sectors in Italy, including ship brea­king, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture.

Each year, 3,500 Pakistani workers will sec­ure overseas jobs under seasonal and non-seasonal quotas, as per the agreement.

Visa-free entry for diplomatic passport holders

During the meeting, it was also decided that Pakistani diplomatic passport holders would be allowed visa-free entry to Italy.

This decision, the statement said, was taken at Naqvi’s request.

It added that the Italian minister recalled that his Pakistani counterpart had raised this matter at a previous meeting.

Discussion on illegal immigration

Moreover, the two sides reviewed internal security cooperation between Pakistan and Italy, as well as measures to curb illegal immigration during the meeting, the statement said.

The two ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, and terrorism, it said, adding that both sides appreciated the ongoing measures to prevent illegal immigration and human smuggling.

Naqvi apprised his counterpart of the measures taken by the Pakistani government to curb illegal immigration, elaborating that strict monitoring at airports and maritime borders had led to a “significant reduction” in the practice.

For his part, the Italian minister appreciated Pakistan’s “effective policies” for addressing the issue of illegal immigration, the statement said, adding that he also commended the achievements of Pakistani institutions in tackling illegal immigration, human smuggling, and drug trafficking.

“Both sides agreed to enhance mutual cooperation to promote legal migration, and the Italian interior minister reaffirmed his country’s readiness to expand cooperation with Pakistan in areas of shared interest,” according to the statement.

During the meeting, officers from Punjab police also briefed the participants on the utility and effectiveness of the Police Khidmat Markaz Global initiative.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy, Ali Javed, Federal Investigation Agency Director General Dr Usman Anwar, Punjab Safe City Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas and senior police officers were also present at the meeting.