Reception for recipients of ‘Türkiye Scholarships’
Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador of Turkey Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul on Thursday gave some useful pieces of information and advice to Pakistani students who are on their way to various universities in Turkey for further studies.A total of 114 Pakistani students are selected for Turkish government’s fully-funded ‘Türkiye Scholarships 2019-2020’ programme that covers their food, accommodation and travelling expenses. Besides, the students will also be given monthly stipend for their daily needs. Embassy of Turkey had hosted a reception for these Pakistani students who had come, some with parents, to listen to the ambassador and learn about the wonderful land they are going later this month. The ambassador while congratulating the Pakistani students said studying in Turkey was their best investment, though not in economic terms but in terms of cementing bond of friendship and fraternity that exists between the peoples of the two countries.
The reception turned into a colourful ceremony when the ambassador instead of delivering a ‘diplomatic’ speech, interacted with the students and asked them to share how they felt upon being selected for Turkish education programme.
Dr Humaira Ahmed, a vet by profession now leaving for higher degree in Wildlife Medicines said it was a dream come true. My father is happier than I, she said and terms it is a lifetime opportunity that I must avail myself of. It will also help me overcome my depression, said she while quoting a personal tragedy. A young student Muhammad Huzaifa having done his A-level is going for a Bachelor programme in International Relations said last year he chanced to visit Istanbul and while visiting university there, his father had asked a student “if by some good chance my son could take admission here.”
That boy’s reply was yes of course and he gave Huzaifa a website address and lo and behold, Huzaifa not only applied online but also was selected for studies in Turkish university. “After doing my I.R, I will appear in CSS examinations and will become a diplomat just like Ambassador Ihsan,” wished Huzaifa as the audience exploded into applause. Another scholar, Umair Pervaiz Khan on way to PhD in I.R also expressed his excitement as he was selected for studies in Konya, the land of Maulana Rumi.
The ambassador expressing his joy at the views of the students said their parents were true for their studies projects in Turkey as “You are going to experience life among the people who deeply love and regard Pakistan.”
Make your parents proud of you and use your skills and expertise after completion of your studies in positive and productive work, said the ambassador. He also called upon them to interact with the Turkish students and they would find them very friendly and cooperative.
The ambassador remarked the number of Pakistani students selected for Turkish scholarships was steadily growing. Last year 78 students were selected and this year 114. In total, 5,000 students are selected from around the world for studies in various programmes at Turkish universities and in Pakistan more than 1,000 had applied out of which 114 were selected. According to an official of the scholarship programme, all applications are reviewed by Turkish senior officials of the programme and then after short-listing of applications, candidates are interviewed by a team of the porgramme’s representatives and after complete scrutiny and transparent evaluation process names are finalized purely on merit.
