Director of Yunus Emre Institute Turkish Cultural Center Islamabad Prof Dr Halil Toker and Turkish Lecturer at Karachi University Elam Ali Teepu held a meeting with Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) Dr Mujeeb Sahrai at his office on Monday.

At the meeting, it was decided to establish the Turkish Cultural Centre at SMIU with the support of Turkish government to promote language, culture, literature and research of both the countries. As per the decision, Turkish language will be taught to the SMIU students. Initially, 30 students will be enrolled for Turkish language, later, the students number will be increased.

Speaking at the meeting, Sahrai said Pakistan and Turkiye had close relations. He said: ‘SMIU has more than 150 years old relations with Turkiye because the founder of SMI Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi had served as a Consul General of Turkiye in Karachi during the period of Ottoman Empire.

Mr Toker said the Turkish government through its Embassy in Pakitan is going to organise international conferences on Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi in Islamabad and Turkiye respectively. He further said the biography of Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi written by distinguished writer of Sindh Mirza Qaleech Baig late will be translated into Turkish language.

Additionally, collaboration between the university and Turkish univerisities will be materialized. Halil said he had read name of Hassanally Effendi in a history book of Ottoman Empire, where he was mentioned as giving donation to the Empire during the Turkish-Russia war.