Turkish aid agency TIKA hands out school supplies to needy Pakistani students

Turkey's state-run aid agency on Tuesday distributed stationery and school supplies to needy students in southwestern Pakistan.

A year's supply was handed out to 500 students at a ceremony held in the port city of Gwadar, according to a statement from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

TIKA, which is carrying out this project in collaboration with Pakistan's state-run National Commission for Human Development, has selected four government schools as its beneficiary in the first phase.

Ibrahim Katırcı, program coordinator of TIKA, said the agency was striving to create education opportunities for under privileged children.

"This project will freshen the long-standing brotherhood between Turkey and Pakistan, who have stood beside each other in all trying times," Katırcı said.

Several local dignitaries, including General Manager of National Commission for Human Development Altaz Sakhi and Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Anees Gorgaji attended the ceremony.

Established in 1992, Turkey's government-run aid agency is responsible for implementing the country's developmental cooperation policies overseas.

TIKA has been running several welfare projects in southern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces.