ISLAMABAD: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy-Pakistan relations have further potential for growth, highlighting economic exchanges, development cooperation and people-to-people ties as areas where the two countries can deepen their partnership.
Meloni made the remarks in response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s congratulatory message after her government became the longest continuously serving administration in Italy’s postwar history.
“Thank you, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for these words and for highlighting the value of the relationship between Italy and Pakistan,” Meloni said in a post on X.
“Over these years we have strengthened a collaboration that embraces different areas: from economic exchanges to development cooperation and relations between our peoples,” she said.
“I am convinced that there is still room to grow this bond and turn it into new opportunities for our nations,” Meloni added.
The latest exchange comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Rome. Italy’s newly appointed Ambassador Ugo Ciarlatani presented his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari on August 13.
On August 31, Senate Chairman and Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani called for further strengthening Pakistan-Italy relations, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture, labor mobility and people-to-people exchanges, during a meeting with Ambassador Ciarlatani.
Gillani highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral trade and investment, welcomed the presence of Italian companies in Pakistan and encouraged greater Italian investment in areas of mutual interest.
Ambassador Ciarlatani said around 300,000 people of Pakistani origin live, work and study in Italy and are contributing to stronger relations between the two countries.
Pakistan and Italy maintain broad-based relations encompassing trade, investment, development cooperation, labor mobility, education and people-to-people contacts. Italy is home to the largest Pakistani community in the European Union, making migration and consular cooperation important components of the bilateral relationship.
The two countries have taken steps to expand legal migration and educational exchanges. Italy has allocated a special quota for 10,500 Pakistani workers over three years under the bilateral migration framework, while more than 3,200 student visas were processed for Pakistani students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs during the 2025-26 academic year.
Economic cooperation also remains a key area of potential growth. Pakistani and Italian officials have highlighted opportunities for greater trade and investment, with cooperation extending to sectors including technology, agriculture, climate resilience and development.
The two countries have also maintained high-level political engagement on regional and international issues. In April, Meloni and Sharif discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, while Italy welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.
PM Sharif, in his congratulatory message earlier this week, said Meloni’s leadership had contributed significantly to Italy’s progress and its growing stature on the world stage.
“I look forward to continuing to work with her to further strengthen Pakistan–Italy relations across multiple domains,” he said, while extending his best wishes for her continued success.
Meloni’s government reached 1,413 days in office on Friday, surpassing the previous record held by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and becoming the longest-running government in Italy’s postwar history.
Addressing a rally in Bari, Meloni hailed political stability as a major achievement of her government, saying it had served as a “shield” that allowed her administration to protect the country.
“There have been days when I felt like I was swimming in glue but I didn’t give up and I don’t plan to do so now,” she told supporters, as she effectively began positioning herself for next year’s election.
Meloni became Italy’s first woman prime minister in October 2022 and has remained at the helm of the same administration since then, an unusual period of continuity in a country historically marked by frequent government changes.