Islamabad (TDI): Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan İrfan Neziroğlu has expressed hope that the deep-rooted ties between Türkiye and Pakistan will be further strengthened by the younger generations, thanks to initiatives like the Turkish Summer Camp for Children.
“Pakistan and Türkiye share a long-standing historical, friendly, and fraternal relationship, and we hope that the new generations of both nations will further strengthen this bond,” Neziroğlu said while addressing the certificate distribution ceremony of the two-week Turkish Summer Camp for Children, organized by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in collaboration with the Yunus Emre Institute, Pakistan.
Ambassador Neziroğlu noted that political, diplomatic, and economic relations between Pakistan and Türkiye are steadily strengthening. He stressed that initiatives such as the summer camp serve as major platforms for fostering closer connections between the younger generations of both countries, thereby contributing to deeper bilateral engagement.
He also lauded AIOU and the Yunus Emre Institute for the successful organization of the event.
Vice Chancellor, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, highlighted the significance of promoting cooperation with friendly nations in today’s global context. He stated that language learning plays a major role in bringing countries closer and strengthening international relations.
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Highlighting the importance of skill-based education, he urged parents and educators to reduce children’s screen time and instead focus on nurturing their talents and knowledge through constructive activities.
Dr. Mahmood added that AIOU has prioritized foreign language education in recent years. As part of these efforts, the university has introduced language programs in Japanese, Russian, and Turkish over the past three years.
He commended the Turkish language instructors at the camp for their dedication, particularly in helping children develop accurate pronunciation.
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Dr. Zahid Majeed, Director, Directorate of International Collaboration and Exchange, stated that during the 10-day camp, 35 children were trained in the Turkish language, calligraphy, and archery. They were also introduced to Mangala, a traditional Turkish game.
He noted that earlier this year, a similar summer camp was organized at AIOU’s regional campus in Karachi with the support of the Yunus Emre Institute. Additional camps are planned for Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan in the next phase.
Dr. Halil Toker, Country Director of the Yunus Emre Institute in Pakistan, said that the Turkish people have a deep affection for Pakistanis and that efforts are being made to pass this sentiment on to the younger generation through educational and cultural programmes.
During the event, children performed two Turkish songs and shared two jokes by Molla Nasreddin. Certificates were distributed among the participants. Parents and AIOU faculty members were also present at the ceremony.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
