COMPETING FOR PAKISTAN IN THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

Pakistani students at PakTurk educational institutions across Pakistan have the merit and distinction of speaking, getting along and competing with one another in Turkish.

Competing to qualify for the Seventh International Turkish Olympiads to be held in May-June 2009 in Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey, PakTurk students across Pakistan gave the jury a hard time to elect the best in all six categories, i.e. Singing, Poetry Recitation, Presentation, Grammar, and Writing.

Subsequent to a rigorous evaluation and election phase, 41 students out of total 200 contestants vied as finalists. National finals were held in Islamabad at the Islamabad Club Auditorium on 22 February 2009. The function was graced by prominent diplomats from the Turkish Embassy, embassies of various Central Asian countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, representatives of Turkish companies in Pakistan, Turkish-speaking Pakistani families, educationists, and parents. Visiting Pakistan exclusively for the function, Turkish Ministry of National Education officials Mr Hüseyin Acır, DG Technical Education, and Mr İsmail Toksöz, DG Sports and Scouting too were present in the function.   

A jury consisting of Turkish-speaking Pakistani-nationals and Turkish academics in Pakistan was challenged in the task of selecting the best piece in Singing and Poetry Recitation categories, considering students’ skillful rendering of poems and songs. 

In Singing Category, Muhammad Salman of Islamabad Boys Branch bagged the first award and qualified for representing Pakistan in the Seventh International Turkish Olympiad with his song, “Benim Babam” which literally translates as ‘My Father’.

Hira Khan Jamali of Khairpur Branch secured the first award and qualified for representing Pakistan in the Seventh International Turkish Olympiad with her poem ‘Issız Rüyalar’ – ‘Forlorn Dreams’. Afzal Baig of Islamabad Boys Branch with his presentation titled ‘İkinci Vatan’ – ‘Second Homeland’ qualified to proceed for representing Pakistan in this prestigious international language competition. In Grammar and Writing categories, Anis Riza of Karachi Branch and Kamal ud Din of Islamabad Boys Branch, and in Speaking category Amber Naz Rahoojo of Islamabad Girls Branch respectively secured the first position to compete for Pakistan among students hailing from 115 world countries at the Seventh International Turkish Olympiad 2009.

His Excellency Semih Lutfi Turgut, Counsellor, Turkish Embassy Islamabad, conferred awards to national finalists and congratulated them for their feat. Wishing them success at finals in Turkey, Mr Turgut also handed recognition awards to the teachers and administrators who contributed to students’ achievements.

The function was concluded with Muhammad Salman singing his finalist song, “Benim Babam”.

Established since 1995, PakTurk International Schools & Colleges operate in 7 cities of Pakistan with 13 branches under the auspices of the PakTurk ICEF, educating more than 3000 students from Pre-School to College Level. In recognition and appreciation of its selfless services to the people and country of Pakistan in the fields of education, social welfare and humanitarian assistance, PakTurk ICEF was conferred the prestigious civil award Sitara-e-Eisaar by the President of Pakistan on 30 June 2006.