ZUBAIR QURESHI
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) commemorated the martyrs of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day through a tree-planting ceremony held at Ankara Park in Islamabad, Pakistan. As part of the project, a total of 500 saplings were planted, with approximately 100 saplings planted together with participants during the event.
The ceremony was organized in cooperation with Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Around 200 participants attended the event, including the Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan; the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pakistan, Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu; CDA Chairman Lt. Sohail Ashraf; as well as representatives of public institutions, universities, civil society organizations, humanitarian organizations, students, and members of the Turkish community in Pakistan.
The programme commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an in memory of the July 15 martyrs. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu recalled that exactly ten years ago, the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) attempted to overthrow Türkiye’s democratically elected government by targeting the institutions representing the nation’s will, including the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and the Presidency. He underlined that Pakistan was the first country to designate FETÖ as a terrorist organization and expressed Türkiye’s appreciation for Pakistan’s steadfast support in the fight against the organization. Emphasizing that the relationship between the two countries goes beyond friendship, Ambassador Neziroğlu described the bond between Türkiye and Pakistan as one of true brotherhood.
In her remarks, Minister of State Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan highlighted the significance of planting trees on the occasion of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, noting that contributing to nature represents a meaningful legacy for future generations. She also thanked TİKA for taking this valuable initiative.
CDA Chairman Lt. Sohail Ashraf emphasized the importance of tree-planting activities in further enhancing Islamabad’s reputation as one of the region’s greenest capitals. He also expressed his willingness to strengthen cooperation with Türkiye and TİKA in the fields of environmental protection and urban development.
Following the speeches, participants planted saplings together and posed for a commemorative group photograph. The programme concluded with the serving of traditional Turkish döner and ayran.
TİKA Islamabad Coordinator Saliha Tuna stated that the memorial forest established at Ankara Park under the project would serve not only as a lasting tribute to the martyrs of July 15, but also as a tangible symbol of the strong brotherhood between Türkiye and Pakistan and their shared commitment to environmental sustainability.
