Islamabad (TDI): The Turkish Maarif Foundation has announced plans to open its first school in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), which will be the foundation’s 26th campus in the country.
The new institution, named Pak-Turk Maarif International Campus, Muzaffarabad will represent the first formal educational foothold of Turkish Maarif Foundation in Kashmir.
The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Turkish Maarif Foundation and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, under which the AJK authorities will provide a dedicated building to house the new campus.
Officials from both sides attended the signing ceremony, reflecting high-level cooperation and shared commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the region.
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The Muzaffarabad campus will offer education from kindergarten through intermediate level, featuring 45 modern classrooms designed to accommodate approximately 1,000 students.
The school will deliver both national and international academic programs, to create a modern learning environment that meets international standards.
It is expected to begin operations in the 2026–2027 academic year, aligning with efforts to broaden quality education access across northern Pakistan.
The initiative has been closely supported by political leadership in both countries. The project was initially discussed during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to Pakistan in February 2025, and has since received continuous follow-up from Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
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The new campus will provide much-needed learning opportunities for Kashmiri children and youth while strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Türkiye.
By bringing the Turkish Maarif’s educational model to AJK, the project is expected to foster cultural exchange and offer students a platform to engage in a globally oriented curriculum.
With the addition of the Muzaffarabad campus, Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools will operate across nine cities in Pakistan, serving over 13,000 students nationwide.
The expansion illustrates the foundation’s growing role in Pakistan’s education landscape and highlights the deepening cooperation between the two countries in the field of education.
