As part of the
series of events to commemorate the 70 years of the establishment of
Pakistan-Turkey diplomatic relations, Directorate General of Post &
Telegraph Organization (PTT) of Turkey and Pakistan Post issued a Joint
Commemorative Stamp. Inaugural ceremonies were held in Ankara and Islamabad
simultaneously on Thursday, says a press release received here today from Turkey.
The Joint Stamp depicts two great
political thinkers who made a deep imprint on the hearts and minds of the
people of Pakistan and Turkey – Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938), the national
poet of Pakistan and Mehmet Akif Ersoy (1873-1936), the national poet of
Turkey.
Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkey Mr. Muhammad Syrus
Sajjad Qazi; Chairman PTT, who is also Chairman of Universal Postal Union’s
Council of Administration, Mr. Kenan Bozgeyik; and Director General for South
Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mr. Fazli Çorman performed the
inauguration ceremony by signing enlarged specimen stamps at PTT Museum in
Ankara.
In his remarks at the inaugural
ceremony, Ambassador Syrus Qazi said the last 70 years of Pakistan-Turkey
diplomatic relations is a story of unparalleled, unprecedented and indissoluble
relationship of brotherhood, mutual trust, affection and selflessness. He
said friendship with Turkey is in our blood, it is in our ethos, and it is in
our identity as a nation. The Ambassador also paid glowing tributes to Allama
Muhammad Iqbal and Mehmet Akif Ersoy, two great poets and thinkers of the
twentieth century, who played a key role in the national struggles of Pakistan
and Turkey. He said though they never met each other, they regularly maintained
contact through correspondence and drew light from each other. They were like
two candles which illuminated the way of the Muslim Ummah in troubled times,
Ambassador Qazi added.
PTT Chairman Kemal
Bozgeyik informed that Turkey had issued 13 stamps about Pakistan on various
occasions, but this was the first time that they were issuing a joint stamp. He
reiterated his firm commitment to further enhance relations with Pakistan in
the domain of postal services.
Mr. Fazli Çorman on the occasion
said although relations between our two States are 70 years old, but its roots
are much deeper among the people spanning centuries.
A weeklong stamps exhibition of
historical stamps issued by both Pakistan and Turkey on different occasions
also commenced at PTT Museum Ankara.