Third Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Pakistan Inaugurated at Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The third Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Pakistan has been inaugurated at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad on December 26, 2024, to enhance cultural and educational ties between Turkiye and Pakistan. Two centers are already working in Lahore and Karachi.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar,Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Turkish Ambassador Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, country head of Yunus Emre Institute Pakistan, Dr. Halil Tokar, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood jointly inaugurated the center. Representatives of other turkish orgs, academics, students attended the event in large number.

Vice Chancellor Virtual University Prof. Prof. Dr. Arshad Saleem Bhatti; Vice Chancellor of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology. Prof. Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari; Chancellor PMAS-Arid Agriculture University. Dr. Muhammad Naeem and Chairperson Pakistan Academy of Letters Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif were also present.

Minister Attaullah Tarar, addressing the guests,emphasized increasing people to people and cultural ties between Pakistan and Turkiye. He proposed forming cultural groups to visit the two countries for promotion of learning and thoughts of great poets, Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Yunus Emre. The Minister assured he will make every effort for the promotion and further strengthening of these brotherly relations.

Minister Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh termed the establishment of the Yunus Emre Institute as a milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.He said, ” This collaboration with AIOU will undoubtedly deepen the historic bonds between our two nations and open new avenues for cultural and academic exchange.”

Ambassador Neziroğlu, in his remarks, shared,  “Our Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad continue to contribute significantly to our mutual understanding and cultural cooperation.”

H.E. also noted that the Turkish government’s initiative through the Institute was a reflection of the enduring friendship and shared values between the two nations.

Professor Dr. Halil Toker, highlighted the Institute’s vision for the new center, which aims to promote Turkish culture, language, and arts in Pakistan. “We are teaching Turkish to students who plan to travel to Turkey, we will be offering unique classes in Turkish calligraphy and archery.”

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He shared the Institute’s commitment to providing scholarships to Pakistani PhD scholars, encouraging research into the shared cultural and historical values of Pakistan and Turkey.

The Vice Chancellor of AIOU, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, welcomed the collaboration with the Yunus Emre Institute, highlighting the university’s long-standing commitment to promoting global partnerships and inclusive education. He expressed confidence that the new center would enrich AIOU’s academic and cultural environment, providing students with the opportunity to explore the deep historical and cultural connections between Pakistan and Turkey.

The Yunus Emre Institute, operating under Turkey’s Ministry of Culture, has established a global presence with over 80 branches worldwide. Committed to promoting Turkish language and culture, the institute offers free online Turkish language courses. Since its inception in 2009, it has successfully taught Turkish to over 1 million people, reaching students across 200 countries.

With the inauguration of its new center at AIOU, the Institute aims to further deepen cultural and linguistic exchanges between Pakistan and Turkey. As the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centers continue to grow in Pakistan, both countries are poised to benefit from this new chapter of cultural cooperation, building bridges of understanding and friendship for future generations.

Pakistan in the World – December 2024