Staff Reporter
Karachi: The Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Karachi, Cemal Sangu, has said that Türkiye and Pakistan may be two different countries but are “one nation,” as the people of both countries consider each other’s homeland as their own.
He expressed these views while addressing a farewell dinner hosted in his honor at Karachi Gymkhana by Dr. Muhammad Farooq Afzal, Founding Chairman of the Economic Diplomacy Forum and President of the Pakistan-Türkiye Business Forum. The event marked the conclusion of his tenure in Pakistan as he departs for Türkiye.
The farewell was attended by dignitaries, including Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Irfan Soomro, Chairman of UB Group Zubair Motiwala, Director/CEO of Chaudhry Shafiq Group Kashif Sheikh, Consul General of Oman Engineer Sami Abdullah, Consul General of Iraq Mehr Ji Jang, Consul General of Malaysia Herman Hardinata Ahmad, Trade Consul of Japan Matsuda, along with prominent business and social figures such as Fazal Dada Bhoy, Athar Iqbal, Majeed Aziz, Kaleem Farooqi, General Moeenuddin Haider, Qazi Asad Abid, Dr. Imran Jofa, Ibrahim Towaab, Tariq Saud, and CFR Chairperson Nadra Panjwani.
Cemal Sangu said he had enjoyed his time in Karachi, rejecting negative propaganda about the city. He noted that he visited several cities in Sindh without facing any problems. During his tenure, he focused on strengthening diplomatic, trade, cultural, and social ties, particularly through exchange of delegations.
He highlighted Türkiye’s rich Islamic heritage and said his country has always raised the banner of Islam. He praised Karachiites for their hospitality and said he shared many memorable moments with them. Speaking on education, he lauded Karachi’s institutions for fostering cultural understanding and referred to his book on Pakistan and India, where he emphasized the importance of Urdu as Pakistan’s national language.
Dr. Farooq Afzal said Cemal Sangu established deep relations in Karachi and would always be remembered for promoting Türkiye-Pakistan ties. He stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation in trade, economy, culture, and social development, adding that Türkiye has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
Zubair Motiwala said Türkiye and Pakistan enjoy historic relations based on mutual respect. He encouraged Turkish investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s diverse sectors, stressing that enhanced trade would bring prosperity to both nations.
Irfan Soomro said both countries are vital members of the Muslim Ummah and share similar views on major global issues. He praised Cemal Sangu for boosting bilateral trade and cooperation during his tenure.
Kashif Sheikh thanked the participants and expressed hope that Cemal Sangu would continue visiting Pakistan in the future.
The evening concluded with the presentation of a memento to the chief guest, followed by a lavish dinner in his honor.
