Islamabad (TDI):Â Italian Embassy in Islamabad, celebrated Republic Day while simultaneously marking 77 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Pakistan.
Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Marilina Armellin, hosted the ceremony which brought together senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the cultural and media communities.
Ambassador Armellin welcomes her guests by saying, “Your presence is the strongest testimony of the solid bonds of friendship that unite Italy and Pakistan.”
She emphasized that June 2 is a symbol of democratic choice and described the Italian Constitution as “a beacon of redemption and hope after the tragic experiences of World War II.”
Addressing the current global tensions, she said, “we are navigating through unchartered waters in international relations and sadly, we must admit that we are bequeathing on our children a more unstable, tense and conflictual world than the one our parents entrusted to us.”
She cited Italy’s active international role in 2025, including the food for Gaza initiative, spearheaded by the Italian Government with the WFP, the FAO and the ICRC, was launched in Rome in March, the Iran-US nuclear talks and the upcoming global conferences on water and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Lightening the mood of the gathering, the Ambassador introduced OliveCulture – Italy’s flagship cooperation project. “Tonight we choose to celebrate the role of food in preserving and improving human health, without compromising on the taste,” she remarked.
Financed by the Italian Agency for Cooperation to Development and implemented by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Italy proudly hosts OliveCulture in the city of Bari.
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“One key aspect of this initiative is promoting entrepreneurship among women. To this end, 26 Olive Business Development Groups of women and youth have been created in the olive-growing areas of Pakistan, with a view to enhancing the livelihoods of rural women and potentially supporting the creation of women-led enterprises adding value to olives,” Ambassador Armellin told the participants.
“We owe to the work of these women the moisturizing cream that you will be gifted at the end of the event. It is made of olive oil and perfumed by another characteristic scent of Italy: the sour orange,” she added.
Attaullah Tarar, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, also addressed the ceremony as a Chief Guest. He recognized Italy as Pakistan’s economic partner and noted that the volume of bilateral trade has crossed one billion dollars.
The Minister extended heartiest greetings to the government and people of Italy on behalf of government and people of Pakistan, on their Republic Day, and noted that both countries have a rich history of bilateral relations based on mutual trust, cooperation and commitment to global peace and development.
The Minister also said that Pakistan looks forward to hosting the next meeting of the Pak-Italy Joint Economic Commission, and that Italy is an attractive destination for Pakistani students and currently about 3500 Pakistani students are studying in Italy.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
