Italy Allocates 10,500 Jobs for Pakistani Workers Over Three Years Under New Labour Quota

Italy has allocated 10,500 employment opportunities for Pakistani workers over the next three years, marking a significant step toward creating a structured and legal pathway for Pakistani labour to enter Europe. The initiative, confirmed by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, is being implemented under a quota-based framework that will allow 3,500 Pakistanis to work in Italy each year.

Under the arrangement, the annual quota will be divided into 1,500 seasonal jobs and 2,000 non-seasonal positions. Seasonal employment is expected to focus largely on agriculture and related sectors, while non-seasonal roles will cater to longer-term workforce needs in industries facing persistent labour shortages.

With this move, Italy has become the first European country to formally open its labour market to Pakistan through an official quota system. Government officials in Islamabad view the agreement as a breakthrough that could pave the way for similar labour mobility arrangements with other European states, particularly those grappling with aging populations and shrinking workforces.

The development comes at a time when outward migration from Pakistan has accelerated sharply due to economic pressures. Factors such as low wages, high inflation, unemployment and rising education costs have pushed millions of Pakistanis to seek opportunities abroad. According to official estimates, nearly 2.9 million Pakistanis left the country over the past three years alone. The Economic Survey 2024–25 further revealed that more than one million Pakistanis migrated overseas for work in a single fiscal year, underscoring the scale of the trend.

Officials believe the Italy quota offers a much-needed legal alternative to irregular migration, which surged by an estimated 280 percent in 2022. Thousands of Pakistanis attempt perilous journeys through transit countries such as Libya and Egypt each year, often relying on human smugglers. Many face detention, deportation, exploitation, or even death while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

By providing a regulated and state-backed channel for employment, authorities hope the Italy agreement will reduce desperation-driven migration and curb the risks associated with illegal routes. The scheme is designed to ensure proper documentation, legal protection and safer working conditions for Pakistani workers abroad.

The jobs allocated under the programme span a wide range of sectors, including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture. Available roles include welders, technicians, chefs, waiters, housekeeping staff, nurses, medical technicians, farm workers and agricultural labourers. The focus is on skilled and semi-skilled workers who can help address Italy’s labour shortages while also gaining stable employment and international experience.

Punjab, Pakistan’s largest source of overseas labour, is expected to benefit the most from the arrangement. Official records indicate that the province has sent more than 7.2 million emigrants abroad since 1981. It is followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Azad Jammu and Kashmir as major contributors to overseas employment.

Reports suggest that around 40 percent of Pakistanis, particularly those living in urban centres, express a desire to leave the country in search of better economic prospects. This growing aspiration has intensified demand for safe, legal and transparent migration pathways. Officials hope the Italy labour quota will serve as a model for future agreements, offering Pakistani workers lawful access to European job markets while reducing the human and economic costs of irregular migration.