ISLAMABAD: Italian Ambassador Marilina Armellin on Tuesday hailed Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability and cooperation.
“Italy views Pakistan as an indispensable partner for regional stability and shares its preference for multilateral solutions, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy and sustainable development, in line with broader European Union priorities,” the envoy said during a reception held here to mark 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic.
She appreciated Pakistan’s willingness to act as an “honest broker” between the United States and Iran, noting that this was reflected in the recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The ambassador said Italy and Pakistan had maintained a long-standing partnership on United Nations reform through the Uniting for Consensus initiative, sharing a commitment to a more balanced and representative UN Security Council.
She added that parliamentary engagement had gained momentum with the activation of the Italy-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, while initial steps had also been taken to strengthen cooperation between the judicial systems of the two countries.
The envoy said migration remained a cornerstone of co-operation between Pakistan and Italy, which hosted the largest community of people of Pakistani origin in the European Union.
She added that in May 2025, Pakistan offered a warm welcome to Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, whose visit led to the signature of a memorandum of understanding on Migration and Labour Mobility, while a declaration was also signed to establish a joint committee on preventing and combating transnational organised crime. “Our partnership is now entering a more mature and strategic phase, centred on areas that combine economic opportunity with innovation and sustainability, notably through organised labour mobility and targeted vocational training,” she said.
The ambassador said in recent years, Pakistan had consistently remained among the priority countries for Italian development co-operation.
She said Italy currently managed a portfolio of 17 initiatives in Pakistan, totalling approximately €169.5 million. “These projects are organised under the “Person”, “Planet” and “Prosperity” pillars to promote inclusive and climate-resilient growth, water management, disaster-risk reduction and renewable energy,” she said.
The ambassador said over the past 78 years, Pak-Italian relationship had developed into a broad partnership spanning migration, trade, culture, science, development co-operation, multilateral engagement, defence and security.
“It is a relationship rooted in mutual respect, shared economic interests, common ethical and social values, and joint diplomatic engagement in multilateral fora,” she said. The envoy said her embassy was fully committed to further broadening and strengthening the bonds between the two countries and peoples.
