Islamabad, March 1: The 6th round of Pakistan-Italy Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) took place in Rome, reaffirming the positive momentum in diplomatic relations and mutual cooperation within the European Union framework. Both nations expressed satisfaction with the steady progress in their bilateral ties and underscored their commitment to further strengthening collaboration across various sectors.
Leading the Pakistani delegation, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch engaged in discussions with her Italian counterpart, Secretary General Ricardo Guariglia. According to a statement from the Foreign Office on Saturday, both officials reviewed the growing trade partnership between Pakistan and Italy and explored opportunities to deepen economic, agricultural, defense, and educational cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people exchanges to bolster cultural and academic ties.
During the consultations, both sides positively assessed the outcomes of the Bilateral Consular Consultations held in Islamabad on January 30, recognizing their role in facilitating smoother diplomatic and consular interactions. Additionally, they acknowledged the convergence of views on several regional and international issues and reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination within the United Nations.
As part of the discussions, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch formally conveyed an invitation from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to his Italian counterpart, inviting him to Islamabad for the second ministerial review of the Pakistan-Italy Strategic Engagement Plan later this year. The initiative aims to enhance high-level diplomatic exchanges and strategic cooperation.
Concluding the meeting, both parties agreed to convene the 7th session of the Bilateral Political Consultations in Pakistan next year, reinforcing their commitment to sustained diplomatic dialogue and expanded bilateral engagement.
