KARACHI, March 29: As a move to develop a multifaceted relationship with Pakistan, Turkey wants to have strong cultural activities with a major focus on collaborative programmes in the field of education.

This was stated by the Consul-General of Turkey in Karachi, Dr Fevzi Uslubas, at a press conference on Saturday. Dr Uslubas was introducing the representatives of prominent universities of his country to the local press.

Four of the public-sector universities of Turkey and one in the private sector in Turkish Cyprus, along with other educational institutions from different countries, would be participating in an educational exhibition being organized by the World Learning Bureau from March 30 to April 16 in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The four state universities are Ankara University, Gazi University and Hacettepe University Middle East Technical University.

Dr Uslubas noted that despite the fact that Turkey and Pakistan have a time-tested friendship, there has been an insignificant collaboration between the two countries in the fields of culture and education. “You may consider it as our fault, but now we have decided to give new dimensions to our relations and offer the best available opportunities to Pakistani students in the field of education,” he observed.

He said at present the number of Pakistani students in Turkish universities is 56, which should be raised to 1,000. “Turkey offers safe and secure environment and reasonable fee packages for Pakistani students, particularly at a time when the situation has been changing after 9/11 in the case of Muslim students in many parts of the world, particularly in the US.

Prof Dr Nezih Guven of the Middle East Technical University said his delegation on Saturday visited the University of Karachi and was keen in having collaborative programmes in the field of higher education, particularly for faculty and postgraduate students.

He said that after Sept 11, many of the immigrants in the US wanted to transfer their wards to Turkey for further education and the government was actively considering providing a solution to them.

An adviser to the board of trustees of the Grine American University in the Northern Cyprus said that their education was based on the American system and all the universities had international identities, but still it was less expensive than that of the US.

Replying to questions, the representatives from Turkish universities said that it would be difficult for them to offer scholarships to under-graduate students, but Pakistani scholars and faculty researchers could be provided free accommodations and other facilities in the time to come.

Students seeking admissions to any under-graduate programme at a Turkish university are required to appear in the international students’ examinations held in different cities of the world, including Islamabad, in June every year.