Lahore, 17 Oct 2023:Mr. Durmus Bastug, the Consul General of Turkiye, emphasized the robust position both Pakistan and Turkiye maintain concerning the struggles faced by Muslims in Palestine and Kashmir. His comments came during a seminar marking the ‘100th anniversary of Turkey’s and Pak-Turk Relations’ held at the Al Raazi Hall. Organized collaboratively by the Punjab University’s Department of Political Science, Department of History and Pakistan Studies, Department of Archaeology, and Turkiye Urdu, the event saw prominent academic figures and students in attendance.
Mr. Bastug, in his address, expressed gratitude to both Punjab University and Turkiye Urdu for orchestrating the commemorative event. Reflecting on the bond shared by Pakistan and Turkiye, he reminded attendees of the mutual assistance rendered during times of natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. He noted the profound influence of the Ottoman Empire on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision and acknowledged the significant support extended by the subcontinent’s Muslims during the Khilafat movement. This information was sourced from a press release by University of the Punjab.
In return, Turkiye stood by the subcontinent’s Muslims during their freedom movement. This deep-seated camaraderie was evident when Pakistan swiftly aided Turkiye after a devastating earthquake. Moreover, Mr. Bastug highlighted the educational collaboration between the nations, mentioning the 145 government scholarships granted to Pakistanis in the past year, culminating to 1518 scholarships in a decade. He also acknowledged that over 3800 Pakistani students currently study in Turkiye, and Turkish experts are assisting in the preservation of manuscripts in the Punjab University Library.
PU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr. Khalid Mahmood, extended his congratulations to Turkiye on its centennial celebration, praising the Turkish populace’s sacrifices and the unwavering support both nations have historically shown each other, particularly during the Khilafat Movement and the 1965 War. Dr. Iram Khalid emphasized the mutual admiration the two countries’ citizens have for each other and advocated for the adoption of Turkiye’s agricultural model in Pakistan.
She also pressed for strengthening ties between public universities in both nations and for more joint Pakistani-Turkish drama productions. Dr. Mahboob Hussain reiterated the enduring bond of support shared by both countries and highlighted joint projects, including the Pak-Turkish school system. Hafiz Hassan shed light on symbolic gestures of mutual respect, like Allama Iqbal’s symbolic grave at Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi’s mausoleum in Konya, and mentioned the active projects TIKA funds in Pakistan, aiming to foster trade relations between the two countries.