An Italian was kidnapped in the central Pakistan province of Punjab on Thursday, the foreign ministry in Rome said, without giving further details on the person's identity.
"(The foreign ministry) confirms the abduction today of an Italian citizen in Multan, in the south of Punjab province," it said. "The ministry is in permanent contact with the family of the kidnapped person."
The ministry has activated its crisis unit and minister Giulio Terzi has asked to be constantly informed of developments, the statement said.
"As already in the past in similar situations," the ministry "will be discreet and is seeking cooperation from the media in this context so as not to compromise efforts at freeing our compatriot," said the foreign ministry statement.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, the person was kidnapped along with another foreigner.
Both were working for a non-governmental group that helps flood victims in the region and were reportedly taken by armed men, which required them to dress like Pakistanis.