Islamabad, 20 December 2022 (TDI): President Dr. Arif Alvi in meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy, Ali Javed stressed enhancing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Italy on Monday.

President Dr. Arif Alvi’s remarks

President while talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Italy said that cooperation in many fields such as defense, agriculture, animal husbandry, and information technology, as joint ventures in the production and marketing of industrial products can further cement Pakistan-Italy friendly relations.

Moreover, he said we must explore the avenues for exports of human intellect, knowledge, and skills online to Italy by our IT professionals and related fields.

The President emphasized the importance of the Strategic Engagement Plan signed between the two countries in 2013 which provided the framework to steer bilateral and multilateral cooperation forward.

He expressed hope that the Ambassador-designate to Italy would work towards enhancing these engagements.

Existing trade of around US$ 1.3 billion between the two countries did not represent true potential, it needs efforts to increase the volume, President added.

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During the meeting, the President appreciated the idea of establishing manufacturing units by Pakistani diasporas in the industrial-free zone of Italy for manufacturing and exporting Pakistani goods and products in Italy and rest of the Europe, APP reported.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that Ambassador and the entire Embassy staff in Italy should focus on resolving the issues faced by the Pakistan diaspora in Italy and provide the necessary support and counseling services.

Besides that, the President advised Ambassador Ali Javed to keep close linkage with the Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan and major industrial and manufacturing entities and explore joint ventures with Italian counterparts.

The Ambassdor-designate must encourage Italian investors to shift the industrial unit to Pakistan. President Dr. Arif Alvi further said that Italian investors can benefit from cheap labor, raw materials, and an investor-friendly policy in Pakistan.

Pakistan and Italy had a commonality of views on a number of regional and global issues, particularly reforming the UN Security Council and both countries should work closely on all issues of common interest, President added.

To conclude the meeting, the President said that there is a need to highlit the atrocities being committed by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), and marginalization of minorities, the increasing trend of Islamophobia, which is putting the life of Muslims in India.