Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, Lidia Pontecorvo greet Pakistanis on New Year

Rome: Italy’s ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo and his wife Lidia Pontecorvo on Tuesday wished the Pakistanis a happy New Year.

In a message, they said Italy would continue to strengthen ties with Pakistan in the years to come.

“We wish the Pakistanis a very happy New Year. Hope this year brings you happiness and success,” they said in a joint message.

Italy is an active investor in Pakistan. Italy provided Pakistan US$100 million under the Pakistan Italian Debt for Development Swap Agreement to social development projects in health, education and sanitation, in Pakistan.

The Italian government has agreed to provide a credit line equivalent to $10 billion for Italian investors willing to invest in Pakistan. Italy has also supported Pakistan bid for free trade agreement between Pakistan and EU.

There are over 100,000 Pakistanis living in Italy, mainly living in the cities of Milan and Brescia, of whom a vast majority belong to the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Pakistan has an embassy in Rome and a Consulate-General in Milan for representation, whilst Italy maintains an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and an honorary consulate in Lahore. Italy has been a major participant in Pakistan’s scientific contribution to the world, and both countries established the International Conference on Astrophysics and Relativity in 2011.

Italy favours a free trade agreement with Pakistan, within the context of the European Union.