ISLAMABAD, Jun 25 (DNA): The speakers at a conference on Saturday
emphasized the need to establish linkages between Pakistan and Turkey
through educational institutions.
A number of Pakistani students avail the Turkish universities
scholarships but the ratio of Turkish students coming to Pakistani
educational institutes is very low which can be addressed by
establishing more institutions, they said.
They were addressing the NUST and Ankara Centre of Thought and Research
(ADAM-ACTR) joint conference on Economic, Social and Political Relations
between Turkey and Pakistan here.
The main themes of the conference were based on the History of
Turkey-Pakistan relations with a focus on the economic, financial,
commercial, and international cooperation opportunities.
They highlighted the role of Islamic Economics and Finance on
Development, and the Social and Cultural Relations between Pakistan and
Turkey.
The participants provided a road map to stimulate and disseminate new
research on economic cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan. They added
that in the last few years, the perceptions and interests of Turkey and
Pakistan had started to converge on a number of important issues. For
over half century, Turkey and Pakistan remained close friends.
The Pro Rector (Research, Innovation & Commercialization) NUST Dr Rizwan
Riaz expressed how cordial the relations between the two countries were,
by saying “Turkey is our brother country”.
President Ankara Centre of Thought & Research Prof. Mehmat Bulut stated
that in recent years Turkey had increased its activity, not only in its
own geography, but also in those countries that are far from region and
not developed economically.
South Asia remained at the forefront of geographical areas where Turkey
had increased its activity outside the region.
He added that forging of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey
could be traced back to the time of British India before Pakistan came
into being but the Pakistan Movement was well underway.
Moreover, Turkish Charge de Affairs in Pakistan Esra Sen highlighted
that universities associated with ADAM-ACTR would have an important pool
of resources at the academic dimension to produce policies that would
trigger regional development and growth.
Their multidimensional relationship showed the same spirit of
brotherhood as prevailed during centuries old ties between Indian
Muslims and the Ottoman Empire, later the Republic of Turkey.
Ideologically, however, she said they were poles apart – Turkey, when it
became a Republic, pursued secularism while Pakistan adhered to the
Islamic ideology as the centre piece of its nationhood, but these
differences of ideology, with their corresponding reflections on their
respective external outlook, never hampered the course of friendly
bilateral ties.
She expressed hope that in keeping with the global trends, economic
interaction will assume centre-stage in relations between Pakistan and
Turkey.
: The speakers at a conference on Saturdayemphasized the need to establish linkages between Pakistan and Turkey thro){kind=link}