LAHORE, NOV 28 (DNA) – Turkey is contributing to the development of Pakistan through a number of initiatives and projects undertaken by the Turkish companies in Pakistan.

Speaking as chief guest, Chairman of Centre for Strategic Research and Director of Diplomacy Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey Prof Mesut Ozcan expressed these views at a seminar as part of the series of events to celebrate 70 years of Pakistan-Turkey diplomatic relations by the University of Management and Technology (UMT) under its newly established Pak-Turk Studies Centre on Tuesday.

Former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri presided over the event, also attended by UMT Chairman Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, Rector Dr Muhammad Aslam, while Lt-Gen (R) Humayun Khan Bangash, Lt-Gen (R) Waheed Arshad, Maj Gen Tariq Masood, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Dr Salman Shah, I A Rehman, Shafqat Mehmood, Ms Rubina Tayab, Muhammad Haroon Shuakat spoke on the subject.

Ozcan said Turkey and Pakistan had many things in common and their brotherly relations spanning over decades were now turning stronger with every passing day.

He observed that circumstances in Middle East were continuously changing and ISIS was posing a serious threat and danger for other countries, but only destabilised countries would be greatly affected by it.

He said Turkey was a strong democracy so it had nothing to do with the danger of ISIS, the weaker democracies should think of it and formulate effective policies to eradicate it and other terrorist groups. He said there was a time when Turkey had ideal relations with former Soviet Union, but today they even think many times whether to go with European Union or not, as it was also coping with problems.

Emphasising the importance of education, he said the role of modern universities in imparting quality education for development was crucial and economy without education could not get a boost.

Ozcan appreciated UMT Chairman Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad for taking a lead in setting up Pakistan’s first Pak-Turk Studies Centre at the varsity that would act as a platform to do public policy research in areas of social, economic, and political landscape of both the countries. He said through this Centre, scholarships to Pakistani students would be given to pursue their studies in Turkey.

Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri said that relations between Pakistan and Turkey spanned over years. He said Turkey had supported Pakistan in trying times and it was continuously contributing to the development of the country and its prosperity.

He said just like Turkey Pakistan too needed a brave and competent leadership in order to root out political and economic crisis including the issue of terrorism. He said the role of Pakistan to bring stability in the region was critical and it could not be overlooked at all.

Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad said that Turkey had always provided support to Pakistan in its trying times and it was uncompromisingly looking after its interests.

He said bilateral connections between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, brotherhood, and unconditional friendship was supporting Pakistan to stabilise its economy and make a difference in other fields.

He said the objective of establishing Pak-Turk Studies Centre at UMT was to provide a forum for strategic discourse, develop study programmes, exchange faculty and students and host seminars and conferences on topics of great interest.

He said the UMT had already set up a bureau office in Ankara where it had won Turkish government’s support for establishing a world-class university in order to translate the concept of ‘Two Countries-One Nation’ about Pakistan-Turkey friendship into a reality.

Director Academics Quality Ibrahim Hasan Murad, officials from Turkish embassy and Turkish consulate were also present on the occasion.