By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Senior diplomats, academics and professionals from Pakistan and Türkiye have discussed plans to give a more structured and institutional direction to the longstanding relationship between the two countries through the Pakistan-Türkiye DOST Forum.
The high-level online meeting brought together Dr Cemal Sangu, former consul general of Türkiye; Professor Dr Yousuf Khushk, vice-chancellor of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur; Ahmet Khan, education attaché of Türkiye; and Professor Dr Halil Toker, former country director of the Yunus Emre Institute.
The meeting was led by Dr Farooq Adil, president of the Pakistan-Türkiye DOST Forum, while Dr Zahid Majeed, its secretary general, conducted the proceedings. Professor Dr Mujeeb-ud-Din, Professor Dr M Kamran, Naeem Fatima Alvi, Dr Sadaf Naqvi and other members also participated.
Participants discussed ways to turn the longstanding goodwill between Pakistan and Türkiye into practical cooperation in education, research, international academic links, culture, literature, business, youth engagement and people-to-people relations.
Particular attention was given to establishing sustainable institutional partnerships that could create opportunities for students, scholars, professionals and young people in both countries.
Dr Farooq Adil proposed strengthening the forum’s existing structure by establishing a more functional executive body with clearly defined areas of responsibility. Members welcomed the proposal and agreed on the need for a coordinated and results-oriented framework.
Under the proposed structure, Dr Cemal Sangu was considered for the Türkiye chapter, Professor Dr Yousuf Khushk for international linkages and coordination, Ahmet Khan for business and finance, and Professor Dr Halil Toker for supervision and guidance.
Professor Dr Mujeeb-ud-Din, Professor Dr M Kamran, Naeem Fatima Alvi and Dr Sadaf Naqvi were proposed for responsibilities covering Sindh affairs, Punjab affairs, culture and events, and administration and coordination respectively.
Participants agreed that the proposed structure would be supported by clearly defined terms of reference, which will be circulated and discussed before the framework is formally approved.
The forum members said they wanted to develop the Pakistan-Türkiye DOST Forum into a platform linking universities, cultural institutions, businesses, professional communities, scholars and young people.
They said the broader aim was to turn the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye into long-term institutional partnerships and practical initiatives benefiting people in both countries.
