STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD: President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi stressed a mutual relationship with Italy in defence, agriculture, animal husbandry, and the field of information technology.
The president said this while talking to Ali Javed, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Italy, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
Dr Arif Alvi also appreciated the idea of establishing units by overseas Pakistanis in the relevant industrial zone of Italy for exporting Pakistani goods and products in Italy and other parts of Europe.
The president said there is a dire need to explore opportunities for exports of human intellect, knowledge, and vocational and technical skills online to Italy by our IT professionals and other relevant fields, as it will retain the human resource in Pakistan where their skills and knowledge could be shared internationally.
The president advised the Ambassador to focus on resolving issues and problems faced by the Pakistani community in Italy and provide them with the necessary assistance and counseling services online for their ease.
The president guided the ambassador to keep in contact with the Chambers of Commerce in Pakistan and other major industrial and manufacturing entities in Pakistan for a possible joint venture with the Italian counterparts.
Dr Arif Alvi further said that Italian stockholders must be encouraged to set up their industrial units in Pakistan and benefit from the gainful labor, availability of raw materials, and investment-friendly environment and policies in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s President boosting ties Italy relations
He said that Pakistan and Italy have similar views on several regional and international issues, particularly improving the UN Security Council, and both countries need to work closely on all issues of mutual interest.
Ali further added that the Strategic Engagement Plan inked between the two countries in 2013 provided an outstanding framework to steer bilateral and multilateral cooperation forward in an inclusive and sustained mode and hoped that the Ambassador-designate would work further towards enhancing these engagements.
He said that Italy was one of its largest trading allies of Pakistan in the European Union and among the top ten global partners.
He further said that the current trade volume of around US$ 1.3 billion did not represent the true strength of both countries and it needed to be enhanced in the future, adding that a fairly attractive number of Pakistanis (approximately 200,000) living in Italy can contribute towards the socio-economic uplift of the country in a better way.
