By: Faheem Anwar Khan
ANKARA: In a prestigious event hosted at the Ministry of National Education in Ankara on Tuesday, high school students from across Türkiye were lauded for their outstanding literary prowess at the Jinnah Young Writers Awards. The ceremony, organized in collaboration with the Turkish National Education Ministry and the Pakistani Embassy, celebrated Mustafa Mert Tokgoz of Istanbul, who claimed the top prize with his compelling essay, “Iqbal and Independence,” centered around the theme “Muhammad Iqbal and Mehmet Akif Ersoy – Two great poets of the 20th century.”
Türkiye’s National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, expressing joy at meeting Pakistani representatives, emphasized the ministry’s pivotal role in instilling camaraderie among future generations. Minister Tekin envisioned Türkiye as a symbol of dignity and freedom, akin to the legacies of Ataturk and Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.
Pakistani Ambassador to Türkiye Yousaf Junaid praised the exceptional essays submitted by high school students from diverse regions of Türkiye. The essay competition, named after Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was highlighted by Junaid as a key component of the Pakistani Embassy’s public diplomacy efforts, aiming to connect younger generations with the profound history of camaraderie between Türkiye and Pakistan.
Ambassador Junaid expressed confidence that such initiatives would strengthen the enduring ties between the two nations. The awards ceremony concluded with accolades presented to the winning students, marking the culmination of this annual competition designed for high school seniors across Türkiye, fostering literary talents and celebrating the cultural bonds between Türkiye and Pakistan.