Around 40 students participated in a ‘friends gathering’ event, organized by Pakistani Students in Turkiye (PaksTurk) organization in Istanbul, aimed at engaging Pakistani young people studying in Turkiye.
Launched one-and-a-half years ago, the ‘friends gathering’ helps students in Ankara and Istanbul to share their thoughts and get to know other Pakistani students for fruitful contacts, as well as finding inclusive solutions to their problems. Speaking with Jarida Today, PaksTurk President Abdullah Zubair Mir said that the students here were the real diaspora who, after graduating, will either stay in Turkiye or settle in other countries.
“PaksTurk is connecting all these students with Pakistan in every matter,” he said, adding that the organization was about to complete four years, and a whole batch would be graduating with them. He said that they also gave credentials to the current batch in the ‘friends gathering’ event. He said that “PaksTurk–Pakistani Students in Turkiye” is an organization that connects 4,500 Pakistani students on a single platform and arranges their interactions with Turkish youth.
Abdullah Mir said that they were connected with 1,000 students directly and 1,500 students indirectly in their WhatsApp groups. “PaksTurk arranges both educational and extra-curricular activities, which include facilitation in thesis, fixing university problems, and students’ engagements,” he said. Giving an example, he said the last time Pakistani scholars came to Turkiye for the completion of their research papers, the organization facilitated them by providing resources.
He said that the organization had also programs like ‘friends gatherings’, ‘student coordination’, ‘Eid gatherings’ and national day celebrations. “We mainly focus on Ankara and Istanbul, which are the hubs of Pakistani students,” he said. Muhammad Maaz, a participant of the event, hailed the organizers and said the event was a great step, which allowed students to meet new faces, enjoy a good laugh, and watch a concert.
“A home away from home”
He also mentioned that it was an excellent opportunity to talk to students from different universities, which was very beneficial. “Getting to know other students in my field from different universities, sharing information, and taking a break from university life were all fascinating,” he said. Abdul Wajid, another participant who is also the university coordinator for PaksTurk, said that living away from your people was challenging.
“During such times, having an organization and gatherings with your community is a blessing.” Although they were away from their culture, he said such events made it possible to come together. “We invite all students in Turkiye to join PaksTurk and enjoy a home-like environment even abroad,” he said. Highlighting the issues faced by Pakistani students in Turkiye, Abdullah Zubair Mir said that most students were misguided by their consultants, creating significant hurdles in settling down.
He shared the story of a student who had paid a fee of $1,000, which turned out to be a commission taken by consultants without his knowledge. He explained that alongside language barriers, residency was a major issue, costing Rs45,000 per month. Due to non-permanent residency, he said that the students faced challenges like getting residency registration and permits. Moreover, he said that immigration policies in Turkiye were getting tougher day-by-day.
He highlighted that Turkiye provided quality education, but guidance was the key. “Consultants send students to universities with which they have good contracts, often referring them to substandard institutions for their benefit,” he said. He mentioned that while Turkiye may be better than Europe in some respects, there was no assurance of residency even after graduation. When asked about the role of the Pakistan Embassy, he said that the embassy was there to help, but students needed to approach them at the right time and with the right person.