Turkish ambassador shows interest in collaborating with SMIU depts

Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Irfan Neziroglu, along with Turkish Consul General in Karachi Cemal Sangu, visited Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) on Thursday.

During the visit, they held a meeting with SMIU Vice Chancellor Dr Mujeeb Sahrai in the university's conference room. The discussion focused on potential collaboration in research, higher education, mysticism, and the establishment of ties between SMIU and universities in Turkey.

Neziroglu expressed his willingness to collaborate with several academic departments at the SMIU, particularly the Department of Business Administration, the Department of Artificial Intelligence, the Department of Media and Communication Studies, and the Department of Social and Development Studies. He also announced support for the establishment of the Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi Chair at the SMIU's City Campus, with plans to affiliate it with Selçuk University and other universities in Konya, Turkey.

In his address, Argentine ambassador praised the contributions of Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi, the founder of the SMIU, to modern education in the region and highlighted Effendi's strong ties with Turkey during the Ottoman Empire era.

Dr Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice Chancellor of the SMIU, thanked the Turkish delegation for their visit and for offering to strengthen cooperation in research and higher education. He also noted that Khan Bahadur Effendi, in addition to being a close associate of Turkey during the Ottoman period, had been appointed as the Consul General of Turkey in Karachi at the end of the 19th century. Dr Sahrai further elaborated on Effendi's contributions, including his support for the Ottoman Empire during its war with Russia.

The vice chancellor also shared plans for the construction of a new building at the SMIU, which would include a floor dedicated to the Maulana Rumi Chair and the establishment of the Hassanally Effendi Museum. Neziroglu assured that the Turkish government would support these initiatives.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr Sahrai presented a souvenir to Ambassador Neziroglu and Mr Sangu. Later, the Turkish delegation, accompanied by the vice chancellor, visited the Jinnah Museum, where they expressed a keen interest in the relics of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, as well as Effendi.