Turkish NGO to open first school in Azad Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: Educational cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan has entered a significant new phase as the Turkish Maarif Foundation has decided to establish its first-ever educational institution in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a move widely welcomed as a boost to quality education in the region.
The Pak-Turk Maarif International Campus, to be set up in Muzaffarabad, will be the Foundation’s 26th campus in Pakistan and its first educational presence in Kashmir, reflecting the deepening Pak–Turk partnership in the education sector.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Turkish Maarif Foundation and the AJK government, the AJK authorities will provide a dedicated building for the campus, after which the Foundation will formally commence operations in Muzaffarabad.
The campus will offer education from kindergarten to intermediate level, featuring 45 modern classrooms and accommodating around 1,000 students. It will provide both national and international academic programmes in a state-of-the-art learning environment. The institution is expected to become operational in the 2026–27 academic year, addressing the growing demand for quality education in the region.
The MoU signing ceremony was hosted by AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan and attended by Harun Küçükaladağlı, Pakistan Country Director of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, Higher Education Secretary Tazeebun Nisa, and senior officials from both sides.
The project was initially discussed during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Pakistan in February 2025 and has since been closely followed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, highlighting the high-level commitment of both countries to strengthening educational collaboration.
With this expansion into AJK, Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools will now operate 26 campuses across nine cities in Pakistan, currently providing quality education to more than 13,000 students nationwide. Education experts believe the Muzaffarabad campus will significantly enhance learning opportunities for Kashmiri youth, strengthen people-to-people ties, and further consolidate the long-standing friendship between Türkiye and Pakistan. Syed Naveed Jamal
