Record 166 Pakistani students awarded Türkiye scholarships 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a significant boost to educational ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, 166 Pakistani students have been selected for the prestigious Türkiye Scholarships 2025, marking a record number of awardees from Pakistan.
Speaking at an orientation ceremony held at the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad on Thursday, Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroğlu called for enhanced cooperation between the two countries in the field of education, emphasizing the importance of academic exchange and people-to-people connectivity.
Pakistan and Türkiye must deepen cooperation in the field of education,” Ambassador Neziroğlu said.
Such collaboration not only strengthens our historic brotherly ties but also builds a shared future.
The Ambassador noted that nearly 30,000 Pakistani students apply for the Türkiye Scholarships every year, and the increasing number of successful candidates reflects growing interest and trust in Türkiye’s higher education system.
We are proud that this year, a record number of Pakistani students will pursue undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in Türkiye through fully funded scholarships,” he added.
While the Türkiye Scholarships are offered through the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), Ambassador Neziroğlu pointed out that Pakistani students also benefit from educational opportunities offered by other Turkish institutions such as TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye), the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and IHH (a humanitarian organization).
Currently, about 5,000 Pakistani students are studying in Türkiye, but this number does not fully reflect the depth of our relationship. We aim to increase this significantly in the coming years,” the Ambassador said.
He also expressed satisfaction over an upcoming cultural visit for 200 outstanding Pakistani students, scheduled for October and November, under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Also addressing the event, Mehmet Toyran, Education Counsellor at the Turkish Embassy, said Türkiye sees Pakistan’s success as its own. We will continue supporting initiatives that increase access to education and create meaningful opportunities for young Pakistanis.
He described education as a strategic pillar of the growing partnership between the two nations.
The orientation session concluded with a detailed presentation by Dr. Tahir Shah, Secretary to the Education Counsellor, who briefed the scholarship recipients on academic life, cultural expectations, and daily living in Türkiye. A Q&A session followed, addressing the students’ queries and providing guidance ahead of their departure.
The record number of scholarship awardees and the Turkish government’s continued support underscore the deepening educational and cultural ties between Pakistan and Türkiye — two nations bound by shared values, history, and mutual respect. APP