His Excellency Assoc. Prof. Hüseyin Çelik, Turkish Minister for National Education, visited Islamabad PakTurk educational institutions on 3 December 2007 as a part of his schedule as a member of the entourage of His Excellency Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, who was on a state visit to Pakistan on 2-3 December 2007.

His Excellency Çelik inspected the newly-constructed Islamabad PakTurk Boys Campus of which foundation was laid in February 2007 under the auspices of PakTurk ICEF through the donations of the philanthropists from Kayseri, Turkey. His Excellency Turkish Minister for National Education was briefed by school administrators before gracing a function-cum-reception held in his honour. 
After viewing a number of colorful songs and poetry performed by students, His Excellency Hüseyin Çelik conferred awards to students and teachers who attained outstanding achievements in local and international educational project competitions/Olympiads. Speaking on the occasion, His Excellency Çelik emphasized the harmony and mutuality between the countries and peoples of Pakistan and Turkey; His Excellency Minister for Education also asserted that such close relations can be further nourished through constructive cooperation in the field of education.
Having mentioned the need of strengthening educational cooperation and research ties among Pakistani and Turkish universities, His Excellency Çelik expressed his regrets at the fact that the existing state scholarships for Pakistani students to have higher education in Turkey is not being utilized to their full capacity, later giving the good tidings that by the outset of the 2008-2009 Academic Year, state scholarships for Pakistani students who are being educated/to be educated in Turkey were to be increased 100%.
His Excellency Çelik once more congratulated the PakTurk educational institutions for their outstanding educational achievements, emphasizing on the role of the schools’ parenting entity PAKTURK ICEF’s self-sacrificing efforts in terms of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of the 8 October Pakistan Earthquake. His Excellency Minister for Education also highlighted the significance of the conferral of the prestigious civil award of the Sitara-e-Eisaar by His Excellency President of Pakistan to PAKTURK ICEF in June 2006 and termed it as a monumental token of affinity and appreciation representing the people of Pakistan’s unending love and affection towards the people of  Turkey.

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