Remarks by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood at prize distribution ceremony of Chughtai Art Awards 2015 at Konya, 25 May 2015

H.E. Muammar Erol, Governor Konya

H.E. Mr. Tahir Akyurek, Mayor of Konya

Mr. Mukadder Gürsoy, Director of Provincial Directorate for National Education

Honourable representatives of the Media

Teachers, Parents, and my dear students

Assalam-u-Alaikum,

I wish to begin by extending a warm welcome to all the participants.

           

We are especially grateful to the Governor and Mayor of Konya for gracing this occasion.

Today is indeed a special day, as we are gathered to honour the students of Konya who made excellent paintings on the Art and Architecture of Pakistan.

As you are aware, this competition is named after Pakistan’s renowned painter, Abdul Rehman Chughtai.

Since 2011, the Pakistan Embassy has been regularly holding this competition. Earlier, it was organized in Ankara. This year, it has taken place in Konya.

I am grateful to the Provincial Directorate of National Education for their invaluable support and assistance in this venture.

I appreciate the hard work and deep thinking of all the students who took part in the Chughtai Art Award competition.

We hope that through such activities, our younger generation will become more aware about the deep fraternal ties that exist between the peoples of Pakistan and Turkey.

Our special relationship has been nurtured by successive generations and this glorious tradition must be passed on to the youth in both countries.

We believe this art competition helps advance this shared goal.

Distinguished guests,

Konya has a special place in the hearts of all Pakistanis.

Pakistan’s national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal and great Sufi saint Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi are the most important symbols of our spiritual connection.

We may be living thousands of miles apart, but our hearts beat together.

It is our earnest desire to further strengthen our relations in political, economic and cultural fields.

In the domain of culture, you will Inshallah see many more activities in the near future, especially also in the framework of the Sister City Protocol between Konya and Multan.

I once again thank all the participants and the Turkish dignitaries who have  honoured us with their presence today.

I particularly appreciate the spirit and zeal of the students and teachers and encourage them to be the Ambassadors of strong Pakistan-Turkey relations in the future.

My special thanks to Mr. Aydin Uygun and Mr. Mukadder Gürsoy for their all out support for organizing this event.

We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with the people of Konya.

Thank you. Yasasin Pakistan-Turkiye Kardeslik.