Pakistan and Italy agreed on Friday to finalize a formal agreement aimed at stopping human trafficking between the two countries.
This agreement came from a meeting between Italy’s Ambassador Marilina Armellin and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad.
The Minister directed the relevant authorities to finalize the agreement as quickly as possible. Both sides also agreed to create a joint policy to prevent the illegal entry of Pakistanis into Italy.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the idea of giving sister-city status to Milan and Islamabad.
The Minister told the Italian Ambassador that Pakistan is currently conducting a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking and has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards trafficking mafias.
He also mentioned that only skilled workers from Pakistan would be allowed to go to Italy through legal channels.
The Ambassador praised Pakistan’s efforts to combat human trafficking and promised her full support.
It’s important to note that Pakistani authorities launched an investigation into suspected traffickers after a boat carrying nearly 200 people, including 20 Pakistanis, capsized near the southern coast of Italy, resulting in at least 63 deaths.
The boat had left the port of Izmir in western Turkey late last week, aiming for Italy. Most of the migrants were from Afghanistan, with others from Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, and Syria.
The boat hit rocks and broke apart in rough seas near Steccato di Cutro, a town at the southern tip of Italy.
