ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Turkish ambassador Hassan Kemal Gur hosted a glittering reception on the 83rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic here on Tuesday.

Turkey was proclaimed a republic in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri was the chief guest at the reception that was attended by a large number of dignitaries armed forces chiefs, federal ministers, present and former senators and MNAs, reflecting the deep-rooted friendly ties between Pakistan and Turkey.

Foreign Minister Kasuri, flanked by the Punjab Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Khalid Maqbool, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Ehsanul Haq, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Afzal Tahir and Ambassador Gur, cut a cake on the occasion.

Ambassador Gur, introduced an elderly Turkish lady Melike, saying she was of the same age as the Turkish Republic.

Federal Minister for Education Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, MNA Salim Saifullah Khan, Raja Tridev Roy, were also present on the occasion.—A Reporter