Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Pakistani universities have pledged over Rs500 million for the earthquake-hit areas of Turkiye which would be spent on relief, rehabilitation and scholarships for students from the affected areas.
A 34-member high-level Pakistani delegation from 18 universities participated in the Eurasian Higher Education Summit in Istanbul under the auspices of Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP).
The first ever Pakistani Pavilion was established at the Summit.
APSUP Chairman Prof. Dr. Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, along with Rector Superior University, Prof. Dr. Sumaira Rehman, handed over a cheque of 400,000 Turkish lira to Elif Aydin, Vice Chairman of the Board Anatolian Education and Cultural Foundation Turkiye.
The President of Eurasian Universities Union, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydin, expressed his gratitude to APSUP and the Pakistani nation for their continued support to the Turkish people, especially during hard times.
Several universities in Pakistan extended their support to the earthquake-affected people of Turkey.
The University of Lahore donated $1 million in the form of 150 tons of edibles, fireproof and waterproof tents, blankets, and medicines.
The University of Faisalabad donated 110 hundred dollars for community services, and a 20-member team from the University of Faisalabad participated in rehabilitation activities in the affected areas.
The University of Sialkot and the International Institute of Science, Arts, and Technology Gujranwala jointly announced scholarships worth 10 million Pakistani rupees for Turkish students affected by the earthquake.
Under the University of Management and Technology (UMT) Lahore, Scholarship Program for Turkey, scholarships worth $1 million will be awarded, with special preference given to students from the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator General of COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Chaudhary who was also part of the Pakistani delegation, offered fully funded scholarships and research fellowships to Turkish nationals severely affected by the earthquake in collaboration with APSUP and member universities of COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence.
In a statement, the APSUP said that the member universities remain committed to extending all possible assistance to the earthquake-affected people of Turkiye.