Rome, 18 September 2025 (Ghufran Majeed): Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OPHRD), Chaudhry Salik Hussain, is undertaking an official bilateral visit to Italy from 16–19 September 2025.
During his visit, the Minister presided over a Town Hall Meeting with the Pakistani community, inspected Consular Services at the Embassy, and welcomed the re-initiation of NADRA services in Italy after a gap of five years. He also graced as Chief Guest the “Achievement Awards 2025”, an initiative launched by Ambassador Ali Javed to honor the extraordinary achievements of the Pakistani community in Italy and to recognize Italian citizens for their selfless contributions towards Pak-Italy friendship.
The Awards for Extraordinary Services were conferred in the fields of education, humanitarian and social services, politics, sports, literature, science, research, and medicine. Notable recipients included:
- Professor Carlo Alberto Pinelli – Six decades of dedicated services to K2 and Northern Areas of Pakistan.
- Father Robert McCulloch – Forty years of humanitarian services and his upcoming Palliative Daycare Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad.
- Mr. Khalid Mehboob – Fifty-five years of services at FAO.
- Mr. Paul Bhatti & Mr. Ranjit Singh Masuta – Contributions to Interfaith Harmony.
- Mr. Costantino Parma & Mr. Marco Marchetti – Services in Olive Tree Cultivation.
- Mr. Fabrizio Sallemi – Contribution through Chaunsa Ice Cream.
The Achievement Awards were also conferred upon distinguished individuals, including Dr. Shahid Mobeen (Literature), Mr. Maurizio Gallo (Climate Change), Mr. Andrea Margelletti (Think Tank Linkages), Mr. Enrico Singer (Italian Media), Mr. Farmanullah Niazi, Mr. Raja Zulfiqar and Mr. Ejaz (Ethnic Media & Journalism), Mr. Elizer Zahid Gill, Dr. Ifrah Ferheen, and Mr. Mohsin Muhhyuddin (Science & Research), Dr. Anas Rashid (Medicine), Mr. Yar Mohammad Bilal (Technical Research), Mr. M. Ahmed (Poetry), and Mr. Usama Zafar and Mr. Samiullah (Sports).
In addition, Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Mr. M. Ashfaq Attari and Mr. M. Waqas Nadeem (Social Services), and Ms. Nawal Zaheer (Poetry). Winners of the Marka-e-Haq Sketch Competition Ms. Suman Mehmood (1st), Mr. Mudassir Hussain (2nd), and Ms. Maham Sohail (3rd) also received certificates and cash prizes.
This unprecedented ceremony highlighted the decades-long services rendered by Italian “Friends of Pakistan” while showcasing the remarkable achievements of the Pakistani diaspora in Italy.
Following the awards ceremony, Minister Salik Hussain engaged in an open and interactive session with nearly 100 community members, exchanging views and listening to their concerns and aspirations.