Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Pakistan’s Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain met in Rome on September 17 to advance collaboration on migration policy.
The discussion focused on expanding legal pathways for Pakistani workers while tightening action against irregular migration, as reported by infomigrants.net website.
Piantedosi highlighted that Italy plans to increase entry quotas for nations supporting efforts to curb unlawful crossings, with new allocations set for 2026–2028. He emphasized a “zero-tolerance” stance on illegal routes and praised Pakistan’s awareness campaigns warning against the dangers of human smuggling.
The ministers reviewed progress on the Memorandum on Migration and Mobility, signed during Piantedosi’s visit to Islamabad in May, which includes training programs for prospective migrants and strategies to dismantle smuggling networks.
Separately, Piantedosi underlined the importance of Italy’s repatriation centers in Albania, noting they align with upcoming EU migration rules. He reported a 60% drop in arrivals compared with 2023 but cautioned that smuggling remains profitable and requires continued vigilance.
Italy has been a hub of Pakistani immigrants, especially in agricultural and lower-skilled sectors. So, most current estimates place the number around 200,000, with a portion of that being documented residents.
If we talk about the most famous immigration pathways, Pakistanis use the “Flow decree“. Italy’s Decreto Flussi program is a streamlined pathway for hiring foreign talent in both seasonal and non-seasonal roles. Each year, thousands of non-EU nationals enter the Italian workforce through this initiative. The scheme offers a variety of opportunities for skilled professionals as well as unskilled laborers, making it one of the most accessible routes to obtain an Italian work visa.
Related