Ambassador Ali Javed has called on Senator Sara Ferrari, President of recently formed ‘Italy-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group’ (IPPFG). She was assisted by Senator Ilenia Malvasi, Member IPPFG. The Ambassador was accompanied with Deputy Head of Mission and Third Secretary whereas Officials from Italian Senate also participated in the meeting.
Both sides welcomed interaction between their Prime Ministers at Dubai on margins of COP 28 in December last and expressed satisfaction over trajectory of their historically cordial and cooperative ties. They welcomed record bilateral trade in 2022 & 2023 with unprecedented volume of Pakistani exports avg $1.2Bn (#4 in EU), with 75% textiles followed with Basmati Rice (both rank #1 in EU).
Hon’ble Ferrari congratulated Pakistani people for General Elections 2024. She observed that over 150 political parties and near 125mn voters, twice the population of Italy, is a rather significant feature of Pakistan’s democratic credentials. She looked forward to visiting Pakistan to deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanges with her counterparts in Islamabad.
Hon’ble Malvasi praised humanitarian efforts of Pakistani community in delivering food and medicines to most vulnerable people at the height of COVID-19 crisis in Italy. The Senators also acknowledged their longstanding contributions to the development of Italian economy.
Thanking Italian traditional support to Pakistan within EU framework, the Ambassador accorded a comprehensive briefing on status of bilateral cooperation, support for each other at UN and ongoing bilateral initiatives.
Ambassador highlighted forthcoming visit to Milan in mid-March, by globally top-ranked female Alpinists from Pakistan, to initiate 70th anniversary celebrations of 1st ever recorded ascent of K-2 by an Italian team on July 31,1954.
Pakistani Community in Italy, estimated over 300000, including 3500 students, ranks #1 in EU for size and home remittances averaging $850mn in 2022 & 2023.
Pakistan Embassy – Rome,
February 26, 2024.
PR. No 4