Pakistani alumni share fond memories of Turkey

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Hundreds of Pakistani alumni from Turkish universities gathered in three major Pakistani cities -- Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad -- from Nov. 12-14.

They attended an alumni forum organized by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in collaboration with Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad, Turkish Airlines, Yunus Emre Institute and Turkey-based Maarif Foundation.

Alumni present at the event shared fond memories of days they spent in Turkey.

Ghania Sohail, an economics graduate from Anadolu University in Turkey’s central Eskisehir city, said: “I recently moved from Turkey and am really missing the good old days.”

She praised the hospitality of the Turkish people adding that during her three-year stay she never felt like an outsider.

Another graduate Junaid Ahmed, who now teaches at a university in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, said he feels proud that he studied in a country which raises its voice for the Islamic world.

“Turkey is the only country who is ready to support Muslims everywhere,” he said.

The alumni urged Pakistani students to benefit from the scholarship program Turkey offers.

Mehmet Kose, head of YTB, told the gathering: “The aim of these meetings in Pakistan is to bring all the Turkish alumni on one platform so that they remember the days they spent in Turkey.”

He added that more than 1,600 Pakistani students are currently studying in Turkish universities but very few Turkish students are studying in Pakistan -- a figure he hoped would improve.

Kose met the Pakistan Education Minister Baligh-ur-Rehman, and discussed ways to increase cooperation in the education sector between the two countries.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Islamabad Sadik Babur Girgin also attended the meeting.