Turkish People feel Pakistan as their second home: Mahmet Emre
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ISLAMABAD: Turkey seek to expand cooperation in the field of culture and archeology as Pakistan was rich of cultural and archeological sites, said Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Country Director Mahmat Emre Akhatuna on Wednesday.
"Turkish feel Pakistan their second home and express their deep affection and respect for this beautiful brotherly country and for its people," he said while talking to mediamen during the visit of different archeological sites including Rawat Fort, Shah Allah Ditta Caves and Taxila Museum.
Federal Secretary for National History and Literary Heritage Division, Engineer Aamir Hasan, was flanked with Joint Secretary and Director General of Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums, Syed Junaid Akhlaq.
A two-member delegation from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), led by Mahmat Emre Akhatuna, visited a number of archaeological sites in Islamabad and Taxila Museum.
Akhatuna said Pak-Turkish relations were transforming into a cultural partnership as there was great scope to expand and exchange knowledge in various fields including archaeology.
He said it would be a matter of honor to share expertise with Pakistani experts to enhance their capacity for preservation and restoration of sites of historical and cultural importance.
Engineer Aamir Hasan welcomed the delegation and said "we seek to benefit from the technical expertise of our Turkish brothers in this field for the capacity building of our experts."
"The objective of the visit to the archeological and heritage sites was to evaluate prospects of extending cooperation with Turkey in the field of preservation and restoration of various sites of cultural and historical importance," Engineer Aamir Hasan explained.
To a question, the Secretary NH&LH Division said after a detailed visit by the TIKA representatives, an MoU would be signed in future to further promote relations between the two brotherly countries in the field of culture and preservation of ancient and historical sites.
The delegation during the visit of the historical sites expressed keen interest and was briefed by the Pakistani officials regarding current procedure of preservation and maintenance of the sites. (APP)
