Diplomatic passport holders: Pakistan & Italy sign visa abolishment agreement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Italy have signed an agreement to abolish the requirement of visas for diplomatic passport holders.

Ambassador of Pakistan, Ali Javed, and Italian Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia, attended the elegant ‘signing ceremony’ hosted at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.

Ahead of the ceremony, both dignitaries held one-on-one talks. Expressing satisfaction with the substance, intensity, and soaring trajectory of their two nations’ strategic cooperation, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of their traditionally cordial and cooperative bilateral engagement and cooperation at multilateral platforms, including the UN and EU.

Both sides termed the finalization of the accord as a reflection of mutual trust and friendship and an excellent addition to their existing wide range of bilateral mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation. The Agreement shall facilitate smooth exchanges of diplomatic delegations and strengthen bilateral engagement.

Whereas numerous accords are currently under active consideration by both sides, 21 MoUs exist between universities and think tanks, and 15 agreements have been concluded between the two governments in areas ranging from tourism to culture, science & technology, sports, higher defense studies, and cooperation against drug trafficking.

It is worth noting that the defence cooperation accord was signed in 2009, the ‘Strategic Engagement Plan’ was established between Foreign Ministers in 2013, and the Joint Economic Commission in 2005, whereas the Treaty for ‘Protection of Investments’ was reached in 1997, the ‘Dual Citizenship Agreement’ was signed in 1983, and the Extradition Treaty in 1972.

Ambassador reiterated the invitation to the Secretary General on behalf of the Foreign Secretary to visit Pakistan for the 7th Round of ‘Bilateral Political Consultations’. He conveyed readiness to convene the engagement in the last quarter of 2026, along with keenness to inaugurate the newly built Italian Embassy in Islamabad, Italy’s largest Diplomatic Mission overseas, underscoring the salience of relations with Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026