ISLAMABAD: Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reaffirmed last year’s decision to grant visas to more than 10,000 skilled Pakistani workers, saying the initiative is to promote “legal migration”, following a meeting with his Pakis­tani counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi.

The decision reiterates an agreement reached between the two countries in December, under which Italy allocated a labour quota for Pakistan.

Mr Piantedosi confirmed that Italy would issue 10,500 work visas for Pakistan’s skilled workers during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Rome, according to a statement from Pakistan’s interior ministry.

Under the terms of the agreement, 10,500 Pakistani workers will be provided employment opportunities in various Italian sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and shipbreaking.

Diplomatic passport holders to be granted visa-free entry

The agreement stipulates that 3,500 Pakistani workers will secure overseas jobs each year under both seasonal and non-seasonal quotas.

During the meeting, Italy also agreed to allow visa-free entry for Pakistani citizens holding diplomatic passports.

The discussions also focused heavily on curbing illegal immigration and enhancing security cooperation.

The two ministers reviewed existing collaboration on internal security matters and discussed ways to enhance co­­operation in combating narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and terrorism.

Mr Naqvi apprised Mr Piantedosi of the measures taken by the Pakis­tani government to address illegal migration, explaining that strict mo­­nitoring at airports and along maritime borders had resulted in a “significant reduction” in the practice.

The Italian minister commended Pakistan’s “effective policies” in tackling the issue and praised the achievements of Pakistani institutions in the fight against illegal immigration, human smuggling and drug trafficking, the statement added.

Separately, Mr Naqvi met Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Athanasios Plevris in Rome, where both sides agreed to undertake joint measures to combat illegal immigration and human smuggling.

The ministers decided to enhance bilateral cooperation to promote legal migration channels, with an agreement to increase the number of work visas for Pakistani nationals. The two sides also agreed to finalise a Migration Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and Greece, which has been pending for the past two years.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026