The talks between Yunus Emre Enstitüsü and Pakistan have been completed. Yunus Emre Enstitüsü will begin operations in Karachi and Lahore as of January 2017.

The negotiations between Pakistan and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü held since May, are completed. Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres will be opened in Lahore city, administrative centre of the Punjab province, and in Karachi, administrative centre of the Sindt province.

Took Start in May
During a visit to Pakistan in May, meetings were held with various institutions, including universities in Karachi and Lahore to seek collaboration opportunities and appropriate buildings. It was decided between the Sindt Province Minister of Culture Sharmila Faruki and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü delegation to allocate a space for Enstitü within province's largest library, the Liaquat Mamorial Library.

Talks for Lahore

At the end of meetings to open an Enstitü centre in city of Lahore, the administrative centre of Punjab Province, Pakistan Federal Government Information Office allocated an office in the Aiwan-e-Iqbal Cultural Complex.

Reception of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Yunus Emre Enstitüsü delegation also visited Punjab Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and gave information on the operations and activities of the Enstitü. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who expressed his gladness on the visit, underlined that Turkey and Pakistan are two sister countries, and said, "We care about the operations of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü. We are ready to provide any kind of support."

In order to establish a cultural centre, a land was allocated to Yunus Emre Enstitüsü by Punjab Province Prime Ministry by command of the Prime Minister Sharif.

Contract Signed

Hasan Kocabıyık, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director of Purchasing and Logistics and Deputy Director Musa Erbaş were in Pakistan between 26 October-2 November 2016. They visited Sindt Province Minister of Culture Sardar Ali Shah, and agreed upon the contract for allocation of space within Liaquat Mamorial Library.

The agreement was signed on Monday, November 7^th under the supervision of Sindt Province Minister of Culture Sardar Ali Shah and Turkish Consul General to Karachi Murat Mustafa Onart. Contract was signed by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Deputy Director of Purchasing and Logistics Musa Erbaş and Sindt Province Secretary of Ministry of Culture Akbar Laghari.

Signed also for Lahore

The lease agreement for the space within the Aiwan-e-Iqbal Cultural Complex to be leased to Yunus Emre Enstitüsü in Lahore, was negotiated with officials of Ministry of Information and Cultural Complex administrators. The agreement agreed upon was signed under the supervision of Ministry of Information officials and Turkish Consul General to Lahore Serdar Deniz, by Cultural Complex Manager Anjum Waheed and YEE Purchasing Manager Hasan Kocabıyık. The renovation and refurbishment activities of the leased space continue.