Pakistan sad as Ambassador Pontecorvo Stefano leaves

Islamabad:’Italy’s ambassador to Pakistan  Ambassador  Stefano Pontecorvo on Saturday left Pakistan leaving thousands of friends and fans virtually sobbing. 
The popular envoy spent more than four years in Islamabad as head of the Italian embassy. From traders to politicians and from vendors to the elite, Ambassador Pontecorvo was loved by all. Under him the Pakistan-Italy ties touched new heights.

He played a major role to support the welfare projects in Pakistan, apart from the top-level cooperation. Speaking to Newswire, the envoy said he was touched by the love from the Pakistanis. He said the Pakistani friends will remain in his heart forever.
“This is the life of diplomats. We have to keep travelling. Pakistan is a wonderful country. I have sweet memories. I will visit whenever I get a chance,” he said.
A great friend, Italy is an active investor in Pakistan. Italy provided Pakistan US$100 million under the Pakistan Italian Debt for Development Swap Agreement to social development projects in health, education and sanitation, in Pakistan.

The Italian government provides a credit line equivalent to $10 billion for Italian investors willing to invest in Pakistan.

Italy supports Pakistan bid for free trade agreement between Pakistan and EU.

There are over 100,000 Pakistanis living in Italy, mainly living in the cities of Milan and Brescia, of whom a vast majority belong to the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Pakistan has an embassy in Rome and a Consulate-General in Milan for representation, whilst Italy maintains an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and an honorary consulate in Lahore. 

Italy has been a major participant in Pakistan’s scientific contribution to the world, and both countries established the International Conference on Astrophysics and Relativity in 2011.
Italy favours a free trade agreement with Pakistan, within the context of the European Union.