By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur, has announced grand celebrations for Pak-Turkish Friendship Week to mark Türkiye’s Republic Day, observed annually on 29 October. Led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yousuf Khushk, the initiative aims to honour the enduring ties of faith, culture, and scholarship between Pakistan and Türkiye.
A high-level planning meeting, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, finalised the framework for the three-day celebrations, to be held from 28–30 October 2025. The week will feature academic seminars, cultural performances, art exhibitions, Turkish film screenings, and student competitions, highlighting the shared traditions and intellectual legacy of the two brotherly nations.
Following directives from the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to observe Turkish National Day Celebration Week, SALU has taken the lead in organising a variety of academic and cultural events. The university seeks to make the celebrations both memorable and meaningful, showcasing the depth of Pakistan-Türkiye friendship.
In his address, Prof. Dr. Khushk emphasised the importance of celebrating such events in the spirit of friendship and solidarity. “Pakistan and Türkiye are two nations with one soul. Through this programme, we wish to strengthen cultural and academic bonds and send a message of unity to our younger generation. From Rumi to Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, and Allama Iqbal, our literary heritage teaches us values of love, peace, and humanity,” he said.
Representatives from Pak-Turk Maarif Schools, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, deans, directors, and faculty members attended the meeting, where it was unanimously decided to establish a Pak-Turk Society at SALU to ensure continuity of such initiatives. It was also agreed that all faculties — including Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, Law, Education, and Language & Literature — will celebrate the Friendship Week at the faculty level, highlighting both academic and cultural aspects of Pak-Turk ties.
On the direction of Country Director Pak-Turk Maarif Schools, Mr Haroon, a delegation led by Assistant Director Mehmet Unalan, Campus Director Mehmet Keskin, and Principal Biniamin Masih participated in the meeting, assuring full cooperation in organising the festivities.
The Vice Chancellor further informed attendees that Dr Halil Tokar, Country Director of the Yunus Emre Institute, and Dr Zeliha Selamoglu, a world-renowned Turkish scientist ranked among the top 1% of global scholars, have confirmed their participation. Scholars from Selçuk University, Istanbul University, and other leading Turkish institutions will join seminars, lectures, and various online sessions organized by SALU during the week.
The central ceremony on 29 October at the Student Society Center will feature a flag-hoisting ceremony, national anthems of both countries, poetry recitations, cultural tableaux, plays, and documentary screenings on the shared Sufi traditions of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
The meeting was attended by prominent faculty members including Prof. Dr. Wahid Bux Jatoi, Prof. Dr. Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Prof. Dr. Naveed Ahmed Shaikh, Prof. Dr. Akhtiar Ali Ghumro, Prof. Dr. Hisam-Uddin Shaikh, Prof. Dr. Khalida Parveen Mahar, Prof. Dr. Irum Rani, Prof. Dr. Agha Nadia, Prof. Dr. Liaquat Ali Chandio, Prof. Dr. Nazar Hussain Phulpoto, Dr. Shazia Solangi, Prof. Paras Niaz, and Syeda Shumaila Rubab Rizvi. Pak-Turkish Friendship Week at SALU is expected to be a landmark event in the academic calendar, combining intellectual dialogue, cultural harmony, and historical reflection, while further cementing the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.
