Pakistan: Anadolu Agency marks expansion in country

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - More than 100 parliamentarians and media representatives joined Anadolu Agency for a special event in Pakistan's commercial capital, Karachi, Thursday to welcome the expansion of the agency's international operations.

The event at a hotel was attended by media owners, editors, and senior journalists from dozens of newspapers and news channels, as well as parliamentarians from various political parties.

The event follows the formal opening of Anadolu Agency's office in Islamabad on Tuesday -- the agency’s 41st office worldwide.

Addressing the event, Tolga Ucak, Turkey's consul general in Karachi, praised Anadolu Agency's expansion plans, including its new office in Islamabad, and similar plans for Karachi.

Expansion of the agency's operations in Pakistan will help in reporting and disseminating the news, as well as photos and videos, he said.

"I am very happy to say that relations between Turkey and Pakistan have been extremely cordial and close," he added.

Also speaking at the event, Metin Mutanoglu, Anadolu Agency's deputy director general and editor-in-chief, discussed opportunities for cooperation between the agency and Pakistani media.

“Anadolu Agency is very grateful to be here. Praise Allah we have opened our office in Islamabad.” he began.

“Pakistan and Turkey must move closer to each other. The media can play a very positive role in that.

"The Pakistani and Turkish peoples have a great love for each other. Anadolu Agency wants these two brotherly countries to come closer. That’s why we are here. We will serve the Pakistani-Turkish friendship.”

Also speaking, Anadolu Agency's International Operations head Muhammed Ural Yesil and Marketing and Sales Director Yilmaz Yaman told attendees about the agency’s organizational setup, global operations, recent achievements and various ways of subscribing to the agency's services.

Other distinguished guests at the event included former Information Minister and Senator Javed Jabbar, army media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director Brig. Abid Ali Askari, Ministry of Information Director Sikandar Shah, Senator Nehal Hashmi, Sindh State Assembly member Syed Abdul Rasheed, Jamat-e-Islami Karachi head Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Pakistan Press Foundation Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President G.M. Jamali, PFUJ Secretary General Sohail Afzal Khan, Anadolu Agency's International News Editor-in-Chief Faruk Tokat, and World Languages Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ozturk.

Anadolu Agency is a global news agency with employees in 100 countries delivering news across the world in 13 different languages; Turkish, English, Arabic, Bosnian, Russian, French, Kurdish/Sorani, Kurdish/Kurmanji, Persian, Albanian, Macedonian, Indonesia and Spanish.

It has a unique place in the world with its news and powerful visuals broadcast from the most compelling regions of the world since 1920.

With more than 1,650 news reports daily, 2,300 photos daily, 400 videos daily, and more than 15 live news sources, Anadolu provides comprehensive coverage of world issues.