Ashgabat: President Asif Ali Zardari delivered a poignant address at the International Forum “Interrelation of Times and Cultures: Basis of Peace and Development,” commemorating the 300th birth anniversary of the revered Turkmen poet Makhdum Gulli Fraghi. The event, held in Ashgabat on October 11, 2024, drew dignitaries from around the region to celebrate Fraghi’s enduring legacy and discuss ways to promote cultural and economic cooperation among nations.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, President Zardari extended his gratitude to the government and people of Turkmenistan for organizing the conference, which he described as a platform for fostering peace and dialogue. He highlighted the deep historical bonds between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, founded on mutual respect and shared cultural and spiritual values.
The President underscored the similarities between Fraghi and Pakistan’s own national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, noting their common themes of Sufism and nationalism. He praised Turkmenistan’s President Sardar Berdi Muhammedov for his efforts to promote regional unity and cultural heritage, including the declaration of 2024 as the “Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world- Makhdum Gulli.”
President Zardari expressed optimism that the forum would pave the way for enhanced cultural collaboration and reaffirmed his commitment to the principles championed by Fraghi. He also recognized President Muhammedov’s contributions as a scholar and politician, reflecting on their shared past interactions with his father, former President Gurbanguly Berdi Muahammedov.
The address concluded with verses by Fraghi, encapsulating a vision of unity and freedom, resonating with the forum’s theme and setting a hopeful tone for future collaborations.