Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf met with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, interfaith harmony and religious and cultural cooperation.
The meeting included Dr. Abdurrahman Akkuş, Religious Affairs Attaché, Ms. Saliha Tuna, Country Head of TIKA Pakistan, and a representative of the Turkish Red Crescent, reflecting the breadth of institutional engagement between the two countries.
The minister underscored the deep-rooted historical, religious and cultural links that bind Pakistan and Turkiye, noting how shared spiritual heritage and the teachings of Sufi saints sustain strong people-to-people connections. He said Pakistan Turkiye ties go beyond diplomacy and are grounded in common values and mutual respect.
Sardar Muhammad Yousaf praised Turkiye’s leadership for its efforts toward peace and stability in the Middle East and briefed the Turkish envoy on Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace. He also acknowledged the roles of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in promoting stability and constructive engagement.
The minister highlighted the importance of promoting the teachings of the Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH) in the current global context, stressing guidance for the younger generation toward Islamic values, moderation, tolerance and strong moral character as essential to building a peaceful and balanced society.
Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu described the long-standing fraternal relations as a valuable asset and reiterated that the Government of Turkiye views Pakistan’s stability and progress as integral to the strength of the wider Muslim Ummah. He noted that Turkiye has completed more than 700 welfare and development projects across Pakistan as part of continued cooperation.
Representatives of the Turkish delegation reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to stand by the people of Pakistan in times of difficulty, calling it a duty of brotherhood. Both sides expressed their resolve to deepen Pakistan Turkiye ties at governmental and people-to-people levels and to pursue shared goals of development, prosperity and regional cooperation.
