ANKARA/ISLAMABAD: Awards ceremony for the 6th edition of the ‘Jinnah Young Writers Award’, essay competition was held in Ankara today. The prize distribution ceremony was graced by the Turkish Minister for National Education, H.E Yusuf Tekin, and the Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid.
Named after Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, the essay competition is one of the key features of the Pakistan Embassy’s commitment to intellectual development. The essay competition is held annually among senior high school students of Turkiye. The theme for the 6th round of competition was ‘Muhammad Iqbal and Mehmet Akif Ersoy- Two great poets of the 20th Century’.
Pakistan’s Embassy in Ankara stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for National Education of Turkiye H.E Yusuf Tekin stated joint initiatives such as the Jinnah Young Writers Award are reflective of our commitment to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship and pass it on to our future generations as a sacred trust.
Referring to the theme of the competition, the minister highlighted that Muhammad Iqbal and Mehmet Akif drove their inspiration from the Quran and advocated against persecution, injustice, and underdevelopment, guiding their nations to freedom and independence.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkiye, Dr Yousaf Junaid stated that fraternal Pakistan-Turkiye relations go back centuries and are embedded in common religious, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual heritage. From Jinnah Avenue in Ankara to Ataturk Avenue in Islamabad, we are eternally connected with bonds of love and amity. Ambassador Junaid emphasized that Pakistan and Turkiye have always stood shoulder to shoulder in difficult times and celebrated each other’s achievements and successes. Be it an earthquake in Turkiye or floods in Pakistan, the outpouring of support and sympathy was always unprecedented.
The ambassador highlighted that the Jinnah Young Writers Award was playing an important role in acquainting the younger generation with the glorious history of Pakistan Turkiye fraternal ties and would continue to apprise future generations of our mutual affection.
Mustafa Mert Tokgoz, from Alibeykoy Anadolu Lisesi Istanbul, clinched first position, the second prize went to Busra Karakoc of Haci Ismail Kavlu Kiz A.IHL Corum, and Batuhan Yildrim of Mustafa Asim Koksal A.IHL Kayseri secured the third position. Tulay Sen from Eti Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi Eskisehir, Feride Ekin Karayel of Ozel Soke Sinav Koleji Fen L Aydin and Cansu Dalga of Yusuf Kemalettin Perin Fen L of Izmir were awarded ‘Honourable Mention’.
