Rome expands legal migration pathway as Islamabad highlights crackdown on human smuggling
Italy will grant 10,500 work visas to Pakistani nationals and exempt holders of Pakistani diplomatic passports from visa requirements, Pakistan’s interior ministry said on Wednesday, following talks aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration and security.
The announcement came after a meeting between Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and his Italian counterpart, Matteo Piantedosi, during which both sides reviewed measures to curb irregular migration and deepen law enforcement collaboration.
According to the ministry, Piantedosi said the 10,500 visas would be allocated to Pakistan’s skilled workforce to promote legal migration channels. At Islamabad’s request, Italy also agreed to waive visa requirements for Pakistani diplomatic passport holders.
Focus on curbing illegal migration
Pakistan intensified its campaign against human smuggling in 2023 after hundreds of migrants — including many Pakistanis — died when an overcrowded boat sank off the Greek town of Pylos, one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the Mediterranean in recent years.
Authorities have since expanded airport screening, stepped up border surveillance and launched nationwide crackdowns on trafficking networks that facilitate dangerous journeys to Europe. Islamabad says these efforts contributed to a 47% drop in illegal migration to European states in 2025, alongside the arrest of more than 1,700 suspected smugglers.
The ministry said discussions with Italy also covered enhanced cooperation against drug trafficking, human smuggling and militancy.
Piantedosi praised what he described as the “commendable” efforts of Pakistani institutions in tackling trafficking and narcotics, adding that Rome would increase collaboration to facilitate safe and legal migration routes.
Technology-driven screening
In December, Pakistan announced plans to introduce an artificial intelligence-based immigration screening system in Islamabad to detect forged travel documents and prevent unlawful departures.
The Federal Investigation Agency has also published a list of more than 100 “most wanted” human smugglers and identified key trafficking hubs across the country.
For Islamabad, expanding legal labour pathways while tightening enforcement at home is seen as central to reducing the risks faced by migrants and rebuilding confidence with European partners.
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