Islamuddin Sajid
19 September 2019•Update: 19 September 2019
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
A group of 15 Turkish students on Thursday arrived in Pakistan, under a bilateral exchange program.
The students drawn from various Turkish universities will share experiences with their Pakistani counterparts, as part of a process to strength people-to-people relations between the two countries.
After their arrival, the students spent their first day, visiting Turkish Embassy, Anadolu Agency office and schools and colleges run by Turkiye Maarif Foundation in capital Islamabad.
Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul welcomed and briefed them about the nature of friendly relationship between the two countries.
"Turkey and Pakistan have a very special relationship which is unique in the world. The support extended by the Muslims of the sub-continent to the Turkish war of independence occupies a special place in the Turkish mind," Yurdakul said.
Sharing his own experiences in Pakistan, the envoy said both countries are working to boost their ties in different sectors -- including economic, defense, culture, education and health.
Later, the students visited Pakistan-Turkey Maarif schools and colleges in Islamabad.
Turkiye Maarif Foundation is providing education in 33 countries -- including in Pakistan -- at different levels from preschool to university level.
Selahattin Batur, the foundation's director in Pakistan, told students that his organization was operating 26 schools in Pakistan, educating 13,000 students.
Turkish students ended their day by visiting the Anadolu Agency's office in Islamabad, where they witnessed firsthand news gathering operation.
Gokhan Umut, coordinator of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in Pakistan, and other officials accompanied them to the agency's office.
The students will spend 10 days exchanging their experiences with Pakistani students and visit TIKA's projects in Islamabad and Lahore.
