Dawn
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12:49 Feb 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reiterated a decision made last year to issue visas to over 10,000 skilled Pakistani workers, saying that it was aimed at promoting “legal migration”. Italy would issue 10,500 work visas for Pakistan’s skilled workers to promote “legal migration”, he said during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Rome, according to a statement issued by the interior ministry. In December last year, an agreement was reached between Pakistan and Italy, under which the latter had allocated a labour quota for the former. According to the agreement, 10,500 Pakistani workers will be provided employment in various sectors in Italy, including ship breaking, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture. Each year, 3,500 Pakistani workers will secure overseas jobs under seasonal and non-seasonal quotas, as per the agreement. Visa-free entry for diplomatic passport holders During the meeting, it was also decided that Pakistani diplomatic passport holders would be allowed...