‘Friendship with Pakistan lives in hearts of children’

Islamabad:The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, Dr. Mehmet Irfan Nez ro lu, praised the artistic expression of over 1,500 Pakistani students, saying their paintings vividly portrayed the deep-rooted friendship between Türkiye and Pakistan.

He was speaking at an award ceremony held at the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, organized by the Yunus Emre Institute and the Turkish Education Counsellor’s Office on the occasion of Türkiye’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

The event celebrated the theme of ‘Türkiye-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood’ through a nationwide painting competition that drew entries from schools across Pakistan. Minister of State for Education and Professional Training, Wajiha Qamar, was the chief guest at the ceremony. She said the sincere and time-tested friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye serves as a model for global peace and solidarity.

“The two nations may be geographically apart but are emotionally united. We feel each other’s pain and joy as one,” she said, noting that Türkiye’s support to Pakistan during recent times of conflict reaffirmed this enduring bond.

The Minister congratulated the Yunus Emre Institute for organizing the event and described it as a creative initiative that fosters intergenerational ties between the two nations. She also congratulated the winning students, calling them ambassadors of peace and unity.