Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training & National Heritage Mr. Shafqat Mahmood, leading a 5-member delegation visited AK Party Headquarters in Ankara yesterday and met with Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz, Chairman of AK Party Foreign Affairs. Both sides discussed promoting brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkey. Minister Shafqat Mahmood said Pakistan-Turkey relationship is deepening with each passing day under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “The entire world witnessed this friendship and brotherhood during United Nations General Assembly session where Turkey stood by Pakistan like a rock after India’s illegal annexation of its occupied Jammu & Kashmir,” said Shafqat Mahmood. He briefed the Turkish dignitary about reform programme of the present Government and said that efforts were underway to make Pakistan’s education system responsive and relevant to the market needs.
Mr. Cevdet Yilmaz showed satisfaction at the growing collaboration with Pakistan. He thanked Pakistan for its support during the failed 15 July 2016 coup attempt and subsequent steps taken by Pakistan in support of Turkey. He showed concern at the regional situation after India’s illegal and unilateral actions and expressed support to Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He underlined that the issue should be peacefully resolved according to aspirations of the Kashmiri people and as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions. He also showed keen desire to develop institutional linkages of AK Party with the political parties in Pakistan.
Pakistan delegation today also visited various institutions in Ankara to observe technical education and vocational training facilities in Turkey and to share experience and expertise. The delegation visited Directorate General of Technical Education, followed by a visit to Altindag Iskitler Technical High School and Altindag Ataturk Technical High School Ankara.
Minister Shafqat Mahmood was accompanied by Ms. Wajiha Akram, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Federal Education, Syed Javed Hassan, Chairman, National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Dr. Nasir Khan, Executive Director NAVTTC and Mr. Naeem Siddiqui, Director General, NAVTTC.