Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Wednesday that close cooperation between Pakistan and Italy would help control human and narcotics smuggling, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi, he said that the government of Pakistan had taken some solid steps against these two menaces. “The government has taken measures to stop Pakistanis travelling to Italy illegally and rein in drug media,” he informed.  

Both Naqvi and Piantedosi discussed making joint efforts to control illegal migration.

It was agreed that there was a need to collaborate and chalk out a coordinated and an effective strategy to deal with human trafficking and narcotics smuggling and enhance border security.

The interior minister, on the occasion, demanded his Italian counterpart to hand over 42 Pakistani prisoners languishing in Italian jails to Pakistan.

He also invited Piantedosi to visit Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, the host praised Naqvi for taking concrete steps against illegal migration and narcotics control.

He informed that his government was considering assisting Pakistan in making its borders secure so that illegal movements of people and narcotics smuggling could be stopped. “In this regard, our team will soon visit Pakistan,” he said.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, who was also present at the meeting, said that Italy could make the most of Pakistani manpower.

He called upon Piantedosi to finalize the agreement on the immigration of skilled Pakistani youth to Italy so that those intending to enter the country illegally could be discouraged.

Pakistan’s ambassador in Italy Ali Javed and senior officials of Italy’s Ministry of Interior were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, a warm reception was given to Naqvi and Salik on their arrival at the Ministry of Interior’s building.  

Mohsin Naqvi visits Pakistan embassy in Rome

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, on Wednesday visited Pakistan’s embassy in Rome, Italy.

Pakistan’s ambassador Ali Javed welcomed the guests and introduced them to the embassy staff.

The federal ministers inspected the passport section at the embassy.

The interior minister, on the occasion, met with the overseas Pakistanis present there and inquired from them the problems they were facing.

Chaudhry Salik mingled with those belonging to Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin and listened to their issues.

He immediately called the concerned officials back in Pakistan and resolved their issues.   

Naqvi, on the occasion, gave directives to issue passports within the stipulated time period. “Urgent passports will be issued in seven days while normal passports in 30 days,” he said, adding, “A monitoring cell has also been set up for the purpose.”

He urged the embassy staff to work diligently and professionally.

In the end, the interior minister also jotted down his comments in the visitors’ book.

Reporter: Awais Kiani