Pakistan and Italy have agreed to improve collaboration between their interior ministries in order to execute stronger cross-border crime prevention strategies and procedures.
The agreement was struck during a meeting in Islamabad between Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Andreas Ferrarese and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan.
During a meeting, both leaders emphasised a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
During the discussion, the Italian Ambassador conveyed grief and regret over the tragic Greek ship event. The Interior Minister describes the loss of important Pakistani lives as a deeply sad occurrence.
The Interior Minister stated unequivocally that there will be no tolerance for the culprits implicated, and that strong measures will be taken against them.
He asked European countries not to hide individuals who have unlawfully entered, but rather to deport them to their own countries.
The Italian Ambassador promises the Interior Minister that visa concerns for Pakistanis would be resolved quickly. The Ambassador recognises the outstanding contribution of the Pakistani community in Italy.
The incident occurred after an Italy-bound fishing vessel carrying at least 800 passengers, including hundreds of Pakistanis, sank off the coast of Greece. Only 104 people are known to have survived, and the chances of finding further survivors were thought to be slim.
