ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (APP): A ceremony to commemorate the 102nd Republic Day of the Republic of Türkiye was held in Islamabad, highlighting the enduring friendship and deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and Türkiye.
The event organized by the Turkish Embassy was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and senior officials.
During the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Irfan Neziroglu read a message from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and conveyed the President’s heartfelt greetings to Turkey’s 86 million citizens, the Turkish Cypriot community and Turks living abroad, and extended gratitude to friends and partners who have shared in their common civilisational heritage.
He paid tribute to the veterans and founders, including Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and reaffirmed Türkiye’s evolution from centuries-old state traditions into a modern global actor.
The message recalled the historic journey from the earliest defenders of the homeland through the War of Independence to the February 6, 2023 earthquake and the nation’s resilient recovery efforts.
It affirmed Türkiye’s resolve to safeguard the legacy of its martyrs, while advancing in key sectors—from defence and education to energy and foreign policy—under the “Century of Türkiye” vision. In particular, the President reiterated the goal of building a Türkiye in which its people will live in peace, security and prosperity—and one free of terrorism
The message concluded with a reaffirmation of collective endeavour—“Together, we will build a Türkiye that is a leading power in its region, respected in the world, and great, strong and prosperous” — and conveyed the President’s congratulations once more to all citizens, friends and guests celebrating Republic Day.
Adding a cultural dimension to the festivities, the ambassador joined a Pakistani child artist in performing the national song “Jeevay jeevay Pakistan, jeevay jeevay Türkiye”, followed by a Turkish dance performance symbolising strong people-to-people bonds.
The prime minister also marked the occasion by cutting a ceremonial cake.
The ceremony closed with renewed commitment from both sides to deepen strategic cooperation and uphold the shared values that bind Pakistan and Türkiye together.