ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (WNP): Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Irfan Neziroglu, on Wednesday reaffirmed Ankara’s continued humanitarian and development cooperation with Pakistan, as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) launched a nationwide Ramadan food distribution campaign in collaboration with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM).
The ambassador was addressing a ceremony titled “Ramazan Food Distribution Program” held at Fatima Jinnah Park in Islamabad. The event was attended by TIKA Country Coordinator Saliha Tuna, PBM Director General Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zeeshan Danish and other officials.
Under the initiative, TIKA is distributing approximately 2,000 ration packages to deserving families across Pakistan. Of these, 500 packages each are being distributed in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Neziroglu apologized for arriving late due to an official engagement and thanked participants for their patience.
He described relations between Pakistan and Türkiye as comparable to those of two brothers, stating that both countries have stood together in the past, remain united today and will continue to support each other in the future. He emphasized that bilateral ties are strong across multiple sectors and will continue to grow.
Referring to Ramadan as a time of solidarity and compassion, the ambassador noted that various Turkish organizations are actively engaged in welfare and development initiatives throughout Pakistan. He said that TIKA has been implementing joint projects with Pakistani institutions across diverse sectors.
He characterized the humanitarian assistance not as charity, but as a reflection of fraternity and shared responsibility. He recalled Pakistan’s steadfast support for Türkiye during difficult times and affirmed that Türkiye would continue to stand by Pakistan.
He highlighted that over the past 17 years, TIKA has completed more than 700 projects in Pakistan, averaging nearly one project launch per week. Development initiatives are currently underway in various regions, with millions of dollars invested in social and economic uplift.
Ambassador Neziroglu underscored the importance of vocational and professional training to enable communities to achieve self-reliance. He invited PBM to submit proposals for further development initiatives that could be implemented jointly.
Among the projects cited were the provision of quality seeds to farmers, livestock distribution to flood-affected families, and the establishment of small-scale factories to generate employment opportunities.
Special emphasis was placed on women’s participation in development programmes. The ambassador praised the leadership of TIKA’s female country head and welcomed greater involvement of women in community initiatives.
He referred to training programmes conducted last year in stitching, embroidery and handicrafts to help women produce market-quality goods. Plans are in place to continue and expand such training initiatives to improve product standards and enhance income-generating opportunities.
An olive oil pressing facility established under Turkish assistance was also highlighted. Farmers can bring their olives for processing into oil, while a separate olive processing unit has been set up to extract oil from specialized products. Last year, products developed through these initiatives were showcased and sold at an exhibition at the International City Centre.
The ambassador confirmed that a similar programme held in April last year is expected to be organized again this year.
He reiterated that the partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye is rooted in mutual trust and shared values. He said that development cooperation, particularly in education, women’s empowerment and skills training, will remain a priority in future projects.
The Ramadan food distribution drive, he added, reflects the broader objective of strengthening resilience, promoting self-sufficiency and deepening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
