Our Rector, Prof. Dr.Ahmet Hamdi Topal, attended the "Pakistan Day" event held on 7 March 7, 2024, at the Ay Yıldız Sports and Life Centre.
Our Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Rector Prof. Dr.Mehmet Atalan, Prof. Dr.Ömer Küçük, Prof. Dr. Kasım Yenigün, Assist.Prof. Dr. Hacı Ahmet Şimşek, Assist.Prof. Dr. Senem Yetgin, Assist.Prof. Dr. Cabir Osmanlı, and Prof. Dr. Burhan Baltacı Res.Assist. Veli Gök Res.Assist. Abdulkerim Dik and many academic staff and students attended the Pakistan Introduction Day organised by the International Student Community, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Pakistani Students Community in Turkey.
Students introduced to Pakistani culture and language during the event could perform traditional folk dances by singing and dancing. During the event, the guests sang the song Jeve Jeve Pakistan, read poems from Muhammad Iqbal's book Complaint and Answer, watched a documentary on the history of friendship with Turkey, and tasted traditional Pakistani dishes prepared by the students.
Abdullah Zubair Mir, Vice President of the Pakistan Student Community in Turkey (PAKSTURK), made the event's opening speech. Assist. Prof. Dr. Şimşek, who took the floor after Vice President Mir, informed the participants about the life of Muhammad Iqbal, the famous poet of Pakistan.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Şimşek said that the poet Iqbal was an admirer of Mevlana, that the influence of Mevlana was seen in his poems, and that Iqbal was also a Turkish admirer who showed modern Turkey as an example.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Şimşek said that Muhammad Iqbal, who was closely interested in Turkey, was influenced by the liberation struggle of the Turks and helped the people of Pakistan to support the War of Independence with the poems he wrote, and underlined that Iqbal's poems also caused the spread of Turkish love in Pakistan. Assist. Prof. Dr. Şimşek, who said that the Turks also responded to the love of Muhammad Iqbal and commemorated him with many academic and cultural activities on behalf of Iqbal, concluded his words by saying that the poet Iqbal is the basis of Turkey-Pakistan friendship.
Our Rector, Prof.Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, who took the floor to make a closing speech, said that they had the opportunity to get to know the rich culture, historical heritage, and future potential of Pakistan more closely and pointed out that Pakistan is at the meeting point of religions, cultures, and traditions with a deep-rooted civilization.
Our Rector also stated that the friendship and cooperation relations between Turkey and Pakistan are based on a deep-rooted history and that the relations, which have been shaped based on mutual respect, understanding, and solidarity throughout history, continue to strengthen today.
Stating that Kastamonu University attaches importance to cultural diversity and international cooperation, our rector underlined that they aim to implement joint projects and exchange programmes in various fields to strengthen and deepen our relations with Pakistan.
The event ended after a photo shoot in memory of the day.
