Former Italian ambassador Andreas Ferrarese has disclosed that up to 100,000 Pakistanis residing in the country will be legalized this year. Italy, hosting the largest Pakistani community in the European Union, aims to improve relations in social and immigration matters.
The current Pakistani community in Italy stands at nearly 200,000, with plans to legalize around half of them. Ferrarese highlighted the positive aspects of Pakistan-Italy relations, including a recent €100 million debt swap agreement.
He also mentioned Italy’s assistance in olive oil cultivation and the mapping of glaciers in the Himalayas. Last year, the country issued 15,000 visas for Pakistanis related to tourism, study, and business. Despite a potential trade volume between the two countries of €4 billion to €5 billion, current trade falls short of this figure, standing at €2 billion.
Italy has opened a trade agency in Islamabad to enhance economic ties, and Ferrarese acknowledged the positive impact of efforts to bring remittances from Italy through legal channels, estimating them at around €1 billion.
Ferrarese’s wife, Albana Ferrarese, emphasized the cultural similarities between Italy and Pakistan, including the importance of family and shared meals. She also mentioned the appreciation of Pakistani embroidery in Italian fashion, with designer Stella Jean using northern Pakistani embroidery at Milan Fashion Week.
Responding to questions about Pakistani immigrants in Italy, Ferrarese expressed admiration for their hard work and contributions to the economy in various sectors, such as industry, agriculture, and services. He commended Pakistan as a “great country with a great and generous heart” that could serve as a positive example for the rest of the world.
