By Shabana Ayaz
Ankara, (PR) : The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara, in collaboration with the Pakistan Embassy International Study Group (PEISG), organized a vibrant cultural evening to honour a delegation of high-achieving Pakistani students currently visiting Türkiye. The visit is part of the special initiative launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to recognize academic excellence and to promote educational and cultural exchanges between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Türkiye, H.E. Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Rector OST?M Technical University Prof. Dr. Murat Ali Yulek, Senior Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Education Mr. Aftab Rashid, and senior officials from the Turkish Ministry of National Education were among the distinguished guests.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Junaid underscored that the students’ visit symbolizes Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of empowering the youth and strengthening educational collaboration with Türkiye. He encouraged the students to act as “young ambassadors of Pakistan” and to benefit from Türkiye’s academic and cultural environment. The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Turkish Ministry of National Education for its consistent support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to cooperation in areas such as student exchanges, teacher training, and curriculum development. He concluded his speech by describing Pakistan and Türkiye as “one nation, two states.”
Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Ali Yulek emphasized the significance of such exchanges in fostering cultural understanding and lifelong friendships between the young generations of both countries.
Earlier, Director PEISG Mr. Ghalib Gillani welcomed the guests and briefed the visiting students about PEISG’s mission, milestones, and achievements. The students of PEISG presented lively cultural performances that beautifully showcased the shared heritage of Pakistan and Türkiye.
Under the Prime Minister’s initiative, a total of 149 top-performing students from 26 public sector examination boards across Pakistan have visited Türkiye in two batches. Their educational and cultural excursions in Istanbul and Ankara provided a rich learning experience, contributing greatly to their academic and personal growth.