The Embassy and EvK2CNR, recently organized, a high-profile celebration at Italian Parliament, titled ‘Italy & Pakistan: 125 Years of History & Collaboration’. Hon’ble Italian Parliamentarians Stefano Benigni and Annarita Patriarca opened the event followed with message from Minister Energy, H.E. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. Ambassador-designate to Pakistan H.E. Ugo Ciarlatani was also present.  

Minister for Climate Change, Hon’ble Musadik Malik, spoke live from Islamabad underscoring longstanding friendship & cooperation between both nations. He thanked EvK2CNR for recent scientific research placing total number of Pakistani glaciers at 13, 032, highest worldwide. He underlined Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and stressed continued scientific collaboration.

Marco Rusconi, DG Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), an extension of Italian Foreign Ministry, noted that Pakistan features on ‘AICS Priority List’. He commended EvK2CNR for publishing 390-paged ‘New Inventory of 13,032 Glaciers in Pakistan; Glaciers & Students Project’ supported by AICS, UNDP, Pakistani Climate Change Ministry, Universities of Cagliari, Milan, Baltistan and Karakoram International. Luca Di Liberto of Italy’s ‘Nat’l Research Council’ praised EvK2CNR’s high altitude scientific infrastructure in Pakistan.

Professor Luca Maria Oliveri gave a presentation on ‘Italian Archaeological Mission Swat’ (IAMS), established in Swat since 1955 and contributing to preservation of local Buddhist heritage sites. Prof. Oliveri was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Distinction) in 2016 for his outstanding services spanning 4 decades.  

Ambassador thanked Italian Energy Minister and the Parliamentarians for gracing the event as well as Chamber of Deputies (Lower House ) and EvK2CNR for hosting the Conference and praised Pakistan’s 125 years of friendship with Italian people. Whereas diplomatic ties with Italy were established in 1948, recorded evidence demonstrates that Duke of Abruzzi, Prince Luigi Amedeo, of erstwhile Italian royal family, ventured into Pakistan’s majestic north, reaching K-2 Base Camp in 1909. 

Ambassador praised Italy for being first nation to conquer K2 on July 31, 1954.  ‘Today out of deep emotional attachment, Italians affectionately call K2 ‘The Italian Mountain’. Ambassador welcomed EvK2CNR tradition to celebrate the historic ascent every 10-years with mountaineers from both nations. 

Praising Italian cooperation for Pakistan’s agriculture and heritage through CIHEAM Bari Institute and Italian Archaeological Mission Swat, he highlighted the success of Olive Cultivation across four Provinces of Pakistan over past 5 years. Adding that Italy first engaged in Olive Cultivation in 1985, he welcomed the €20mn Agreement for Agriculture TVET signed in Islamabad on 29.6.26.

Ambassador welcomed an under-consideration proposal for Technical Cooperation to establish ‘Heritage Field Schools’ & ‘Forensic Lab’ in KPK Province, noting its potential to boost preservation of heritage and linked tourism.

Ambassador also acknowledged Professor Carlo Alberto Pinelli (Sitara-e-Imtiaz 2016) for his 65 years of friendship and his INGO ‘Mountain Wilderness’, for contributing in fields of Mountaineering, High Altitude Porters & Rescue, Trekking, Rock Climbing, National Parks and Solid Waste Management from vicinity of K2.

Dr. Davide Fugazza & Anees Ahmad from Univ. of Milan shared scientific research on ‘Karakoram Anomaly’, a ‘self-protect’ phenomenon uniquely associated with Pakistani glaciers. Prof. Diolaiuti presented a Paper on ‘Ardito Desio’, who had led  1954 expedition to K2 and later became known as ‘’Scholar of Karakoram’.

The Event, witnessed by salient members of Pakistani community and Italian civil society, declared ‘K2’ as enduring symbol of Pak-Italy Friendship. Proceedings were concluded with Ambassador conferring the prestigious ‘Tamgha-e-Pakistan’ (Medal of Pakistan) upon Agostino da Polenza, President EvK2CNR for his longstanding services to Pakistan. 

Pakistan Embassy – Rome,
July 10, 2026.