Pakistan has secured a landmark labour quota agreement with Italy, enabling 10,500 Pakistani workers to access employment opportunities in Europe over the next three years.

Under the agreement, Italy becomes the first European country to allocate a dedicated employment quota specifically for Pakistani workers, officials announced on Saturday. The arrangement provides for the deployment of 3,500 workers annually, including 1,500 seasonal workers for short-term employment and 2,000 non-seasonal workers for longer-term positions.

The employment opportunities will cover a wide range of sectors, including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture. The quota includes positions for both skilled and semi-skilled workers such as welders, technicians, chefs, waiters, housekeepers, nurses, medical technicians and agricultural labourers.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain described the development as a “historic milestone,” stating that, after prolonged efforts, new employment avenues for Pakistani workers in Italy are now opening.

The agreement comes as Pakistan seeks to diversify overseas employment destinations beyond the Middle East while increasing remittance inflows, which remain a vital source of foreign exchange for the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development confirmed that the second meeting of the Pakistan–Italy Joint Working Group on labour cooperation will be held in Islamabad in February 2026. The meeting will focus on the implementation of the agreement and the exploration of further areas of cooperation.