Italy Introduces Visa Services In Another Pakistani City

The First Secretary at the Italian Embassy, Augusto Palmeiri, has announced the initiation of visa services in Lahore, signaling Italy’s commitment to facilitating travel from Pakistan. Palmeiri further disclosed plans to extend this visa service to other major cities across Pakistan in the near future. These announcements were made during a meeting with traders at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday.

During the meeting, attended by LCCI President Kashif Anwar, Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Chaudhry, and executive member Chaudhry Khadim, Augusto Palmeiri emphasized the pivotal role of strengthening ties between Italy and Pakistan, both in diplomatic relations and business collaborations.

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Palmeiri underscored the considerable potential for bilateral trade growth between the two nations, setting an ambitious target of reaching $5 billion. LCCI President Kashif Anwar expressed the chamber’s keen interest in renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Italian Embassy in 2018.

Highlighting Italy’s significant economic importance for Pakistan, Kashif Anwar emphasized Italy’s standing as one of the largest economies within the European Union, boasting a GDP exceeding 2 trillion dollars. Italy holds considerable significance as a trading partner for Pakistan in Europe, ranking 8th among the top destinations for Pakistani exports. According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan’s exports to Italy totaled approximately $1.15 billion during the fiscal year 2022-23, with imports from Italy reaching $527 million in the same period. The expansion of visa services is seen as a positive step to further foster diplomatic, economic, and cultural connections between Italy and Pakistan.