Islamabad:Education is strengthening Pakistan-Türkiye ties rooted in shared history, trust and brotherhood, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Irfan Neziroglu said on Monday as a large number of students and academics attended the Turkish University Fair 2026 in Islamabad.
The fair, held at a hotel, brought together leading higher education institutions from Türkiye and provided Pakistani students with information on academic programmes, admission procedures and scholarship opportunities, while also creating space for collaboration between universities of the two countries.
Organised by the Maarif Agency with the support of the Turkish Maarif Foundation and Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, the event featured participation from nine Turkish universities, which engaged directly with prospective students and academic representatives.
A wide cross section of students, educators and institutional representatives from across the country attended the event, reflecting growing interest among Pakistani students in pursuing higher education in Türkiye.
Senior officials, including the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, vice chancellors and representatives of leading Pakistani universities, were also present at the event. Among the participating institutions were National University of Sciences and Technology, FAST National University, COMSATS University Islamabad, University of Lahore, Lahore College for Women University, Foundation University Islamabad, University of Education Lahore and Riphah International University, whose representatives also held discussions with Turkish counterparts.
Officials said the fair served as a platform for structured engagement between Pakistani and Turkish institutions, with discussions focusing on student mobility programmes, joint research initiatives and long term academic partnerships.
The chairman of the Higher Education Commission said such initiatives were important for expanding educational opportunities and promoting knowledge exchange between the two countries.
Ambassador Neziro lu said educational cooperation remained a key driver of bilateral relations, adding that closer academic links would further strengthen ties between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Officials added that Türkiye has emerged as an attractive destination for international students and is currently hosting more than 380,000 students from over 180 countries due to its recognised universities and diverse academic offerings.
