On February 19, 2025, a meeting was held between the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan, Mr. J. Gurbangeldiyev, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Turkmenistan, Mr. Ahsan Wagan. The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss opportunities and conditions for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education.

The parties proudly noted that the mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is characterized by traditionally friendly and good-neighborly relations. Thanks to the efforts of the Heads of State, these relations have become even closer in recent years.

President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, aptly stated: "We remain committed to fostering effective cooperation with Pakistan. The foundation of these relations is based on centuries-old traditions of friendship and fraternity, as well as the principles of mutually beneficial and equitable partnership."

The Minister of Education of Turkmenistan introduced the distinguished guest to the ongoing work aimed at continuously improving the quality of education in line with advanced global standards, as well as the achievements of Turkmenistan at both national and international levels.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that productive cooperation is currently being implemented based on agreements signed between higher education institutions of Turkmenistan and Pakistan. A detailed overview of education system reforms, digitalization efforts, international cooperation, and the development of higher education institutions in Turkmenistan was provided. The recent success of Turkmen universities in international rankings was also highlighted.

The parties discussed specific proposals for further expanding cooperation in the field of education. In particular, it was emphasized that Pakistan has been invited to participate in educational events dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly at Turkmenistan's initiative, as well as in celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Neutrality. The participation of representatives from COMSATS University (Pakistan) was also highlighted in the International Educational and Methodological Conference "Language – an Important Tool for Friendly Relations", which will be held in February 2025 at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.The parties also discussed the participation of Pakistani schoolchildren in the II International Mathematics Olympiad, which will take place in Ashgabat from April 21 to 26, 2025. Additionally, an initiative was put forward to establish cooperation between S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University (Turkmenistan) and the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad (Pakistan) in the fields of agricultural economics and livestock farming.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Ahsan Wagan, highly praised the educational reforms being carried out in Turkmenistan and emphasized the importance of further expanding cooperation between higher education institutions of both countries.

The Ambassador announced that Pakistani universities are ready to offer scholarships to Turkmen students in the following fields:

Banking and Finance

Railway Transport

Information Technology (IT)

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Foreign Language Studies

Additionally, Mr. Wagan expressed his willingness to hold an "open lecture" for Turkmen university students, sharing his diplomatic experience.

During the meeting, it was proposed to organize events dedicated to the life and works of the classical Pakistani poet, Allama Iqbal..

At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed their mutual interest in further developing cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing new educational projects and initiatives.

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan