LAHORE: (Tuesday, October 17, 2023): Turkiye's Consul General Mr. Durmus Bastug has said that Pakistan and Turkiye have a strong stance regarding the oppressed Muslims in Palestine and Kashmir and both the countries have always come forward to help each other in difficult times. He was addressing at a seminar organized by Punjab University Department of Political Science, Department of History and Pakistan Studies, Department of Archaeology in collaboration with Turkiye Urdu on ‘100th anniversary of Turkey's and Pak-Turk Relations’ at Al Raazi Hall here on Tuesday. On this occasion, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Chairperson Department of Political Science Dr Iram Khalid, Chairman Department of History Dr Mahboob Hussain, Chairman Department of Archeology Dr Muhammad Hameed, Executive Director of Turkiye Urdu Muhammad Hassan, faculty members and students were present. In his address, Mr. Durmus Bastug thanked Punjab University and Turkiye Urdu for organizing the event. He said that there are deep and friendly relations between Pakistan and Turkiye and the nations of both countries have helped each other in calamities like floods and earthquakes. He said that many of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's ideas were inspired from the Ottoman Empire, while the Muslims of the subcontinent helped a lot in the Khilafat movement. He said that people of Turkiye helped the subcontinent’s Muslims in the time of freedom movement and we celebrated 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Pakistan in Turkiye. He said that Pakistan was the first to reach Turkiye during the earthquake, which is commendable. He said that there are many scholarship programs between the two countries to promote education and last year 145 government scholarships have been given to Pakistanis. He said that in ten years, 1518 scholarships have been distributed to Pakistani students while more than 3800 Pakistani students are getting education in Turkiye. He said that experts from Turkiye are helping to protect the manuscripts in Punjab University Library. He said that we are happy that the people of Pakistan are taking interest in Turkish culture and language because increasing language contact will further promote relations.

Dr Khalid Mahmood congratulated Turkiye on the completion of 100 years. He said that the people of Turkiye have made unprecedented sacrifices for their land and traditions, which the Muslim Ummah is proud of. He said that Turkiye has always supported the oppressed. He said that during the Khilafat Movement and the 1965 War, the people of both the regions have fully supported each other. Dr Iram Khalid said that the people of both countries love each other. She said that Pakistan and Turkiye have the common position in international affairs. She said that the model of Turkiye should be adopted for the development of the agricultural sector in Pakistan. She said that there is a need to increase the relationship between the public universities of Turkiye and Pakistan. She said that theTurkish nation is very proud of its national traditions and there is a need to adopt this spirit. She emphasized the need to promote joint productions of Turkish and Pakistani dramas. Dr Mahboob Hussain said that Pakistan and Turkiye have always stood by each other in difficult times. He said that Turkiye and Pakistan are also working on many joint projects. He said that relations between the two countries are being promoted through Pak-Turkish school system. Hafiz Hassaan said that there is a symbolic grave of Allama Iqbal at the mausoleum of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi in Konya. He said that Tayyab Erdogan openly supported Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue. He said that TIKA is funding various development projects in Pakistan. He said that steps are being taken to further promote trade between Turkey and Pakistan.