It is a great honor to be invited here to preside over the official opening of the new campus of the Islamabad PakTurk International Schools & Colleges. It is a special pleasure to see so many people here for the occasion, from every part of the community; from all walks of life, from Pakistan and Turkey.
I cordially welcome our Turkish dignitaries and philanthropists who are exclusively visiting Pakistan for this august occasion. I wish your stay in here will be pleasant and full of vivid memories.
We all know that those who wish to predict a nation's future can do so accurately by analyzing the education and upbringing being given to its young people.
Likewise across the world, Pakistan too faces the challenge with our children's education. Government is tackling this problem, but the back-log can be overcome only when all sectors of our society work together - and in particular through strong partnership between Government, the private sector and communities themselves.
The strong people-to-people and state connections existing between Pakistan and Turkey since the time immemorial has been given further dimension with educational cooperation and dedication rendered by the philanthropic people of Turkey through PakTurk educational institutions across Pakistan. The PakTurk School Network operated by PakTurk International Cha Educational Foundation with 14 branches in 7 cities of Pakistan provide quality education for 3800 students from Pre-School to College Level, bringing them up as individuals who are respectful for the national and spiritual values of Pakistan, who have a vision to encompass not only Pakistan but also the entire humanity with the world all together, and thus as a generation who is faithful, progressive, self-confident and ideal.
In recognition of its selfless services for the people and country of Pakistan in the fields of education and social welfare, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 30 June 2006 had conferred the prestigious civil award Sitara-e-Eisaar on PakTurk International Cha Educational Foundation.
PakTurk International Cha Educational Foundation, a couple of months back, approached us for the allocation of an educational plot in Islamabad for a school to contain its Pre-School, Junior and Girls Sections. We have directed the Capital Development Authority for a land to be allotted for the said project. Soon, I believe, you shall be hearing good news in this regard.  
I am also glad to have learnt that the Foundation, with the participation of officials and public sector representatives from Turkey, inaugurated the PakTurk Schools’ Lahore Campus last week on this day.
I hereby applaud the dedication and love shown by the philanthropic people of Turkey for Pakistan, via the construction and operation of this excellent educational facility in the best form. Not only your efforts and enthusiasm in this regard, but also the support and involvement of the Pakistani and Turkish teaching faculty in making this institution a hub of learning, makes this day a unique turning-point in the educational almanac of Pakistan. We have been hearing and applauding for PakTurk students’ outstanding achievements at national and international level, which bring pride and distinction to our country. Let it be known that our Government’s support in all essential matters is with you.
This is the spirit of philanthropy and universal language of education by which the lives of our generations will be improved. As a result, today Pakistan has this fine school for its young people. Now it is up to the community - parents, teachers and pupils - to make it work. It is a well known fact that improving a community is possible only by elevating the young generations to the rank of humanity, not by obliterating the bad ones. Unless a seed composed of religion, tradition, and historical consciousness is germinated throughout the country, new evil elements will appear and grow in the place of each eradicated bad one.
I appeal to all the young people here today to make use of these educational facilities and the other educational opportunities which our peoples’ cooperation and mutuality has brought. Study hard and dedicate yourselves to acquiring a good education. By doing so, you will not only benefit yourselves and your community, but you will also contribute to a prosperous future for our country.
However good our facilities are, we need the commitment of students, teachers and parents so that Pakistan becomes a learning nation that produces the leaders of tomorrow. This is critical to the achievement of our goals of reconstruction and development, to economic growth and prosperity.
But there is one other thing that is vital for the realisation of these goals, and that is the co-operation of our people, setting aside artificial divides. As our society is plagued with three wicked enemies named Lack of Education, Poverty and Schism, we can beat these only by joining hands in establishing educational institutions which will counteract the leading enemy of Ignorance with sublime knowledge.
Likewise our Turkish guests as philanthropic businessmen and entrepreneurs devoted their donations and moral support in the embodiment of this Islamabad Campus, I call our Pakistani philanthropists, businessmen and all those who have means to the noble duty of lending an unconditional hand to the Government in uplifting our generations educational welfare by opening schools across the country.
PakTurk educational institutions’ motto indeed summarizes what both countries feel for each other: We are two countries, yet our hearts are beating as one. The inauguration of this school campus is a concrete example of how Turkish people consider the youth of Pakistan equal to their own.
That is why today's ceremony is such a joy. Especially when Pakistan’s present and future generations are concerned, it is right that we should be together to celebrate a state-of-the-art school like this, because nothing can be more important for us all than the education of our children.
We have the utmost elation of celebrating the inauguration of not only a school building, but also our assurance of how grand Pakistan and Turkey’s cooperation in vital fields like education and trade bring changes to propel our countries farther in the comity of nations.
I congratulate everyone who has a share in bringing about this change. I wholeheartedly greet and thank the Turkish delegation led by His Excellency Nevzat Pakdil, Deputy Speaker Turkish Grand National Assembly on their exclusive visit to Pakistan on this auspicious occasion, giving positive and moral support to educational activities meant for the bright present and future of Pakistan.
Thank you,
Pakistan Zindabad!
Pak-Turk Dosti Paindabad!