Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day was marked at the Embassy of Pakistan in Rome, where members of the Pakistani community gathered to celebrate the occasion.
300,000 Pakistanis in Italy send $1.3 billion home as embassy marks Independence Day in Rome
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15 (APP): Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day was marked at the Embassy of Pakistan in Rome, where members of the Pakistani community gathered to celebrate the occasion.
The ceremony highlighted the contribution of more than 300,000 Pakistanis living in Italy, who sent remittances worth $1.3 billion in 2025 and helped drive exports of Pakistani products worth $1.16 billion.
The event also featured the launch of the 3rd Achievement Awards and a new outreach campaign aimed at increasing the embassy’s WhatsApp subscribers from 20,000 to 40,000 by the end of 2026.
Pakistan’s Independence Day was observed at the Embassy of Pakistan in Rome with the participation of a large number of community members, including children dressed in the national colours.
Ambassador Ali Javed hoisted the national flag as the national anthem was played. He also read messages from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Addressing the gathering, the ambassador paid tribute to those who took part in the independence movement and spoke about the legal, political and democratic process that led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
He reaffirmed the commitment to a secure and prosperous Pakistan and acknowledged the role of the country’s armed forces. Referring to “Marka-e-Haq,” he said the armed forces had defended the country’s sovereignty and strengthened the confidence of Pakistanis living abroad.
The ambassador also highlighted the contribution of the Pakistani community in Italy. He noted that more than 300,000 Pakistanis are living and working across the country and continue to support Pakistan’s economy and international ties.
According to figures shared during the ceremony, remittances sent by Pakistanis in Italy reached $1.3 billion in 2025, placing Italy among the leading sources of remittances from Europe after the United Kingdom. During the same period, exports of Pakistani products to Italy reached a record $1.16 billion.
The ambassador also acknowledged the role of over 4,000 Pakistani students pursuing higher education in Italy. He said these students are contributing to academic links between the two countries and representing Pakistan in different institutions.
During the event, the embassy announced the launch of the 3rd Achievement Awards and invited members of the community to submit their achievements for consideration.
Another initiative introduced at the ceremony was the “1+1” campaign. Under the programme, every member of the Pakistani community subscribed to the embassy’s WhatsApp broadcast service will be encouraged to connect one additional Pakistani with the platform.
The campaign is designed to improve direct communication between the embassy and the community. Officials said the goal is to increase the number of subscribers from the current 20,000 to 40,000 by the end of 2026.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening links between Pakistan and its community in Italy while promoting cooperation between the two countries.
