Islamabad, October 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: A visiting Turkmen delegation led by Yalkap Hojagulyyev, Head of the “Spiritual Mosque of Arkadag” Religious Organization and Chief Imam of the mosque, held a series of meetings with Pakistani academic and religious education officials in Islamabad on October 27, 2026, to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in religious education.
During the second day of his working visit to Pakistan, Hojagulyyev met Professor Ahmed Saad Alahmed, President of the International Islamic University Islamabad; Professor Muhammad Ilyas, Director General of the university’s Dawah Academy and Chief Imam and Khatib of Faisal Mosque; and Ghulam Qamar, Director General of the Directorate of Religious Education at Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
The discussions focused on prospects for establishing and expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and Pakistan in religious education, exchanging institutional experience, improving academic curricula and training highly qualified religious specialists.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening educational institutions, enhancing the professional capabilities of academic and teaching staff, and promoting the exchange of expertise in religious studies.
As part of the visit, the Turkmen delegation toured the central administration of the International Islamic University Islamabad, Faisal Mosque and Jamia Muhammadiyya, an independently operated religious educational institution.
During these visits, the delegation was briefed on the historical, religious and social significance of Faisal Mosque and the madrasa, as well as the organisation of educational and character-building activities at Jamia Muhammadiyya and its teaching programmes in Islamic jurisprudence.
The engagements provided an opportunity for the delegation to gain insight into Pakistan’s religious education system, academic practices and institutional arrangements.
Particular emphasis was placed on developing religious education, improving the professional qualifications of teachers and academic personnel, and strengthening cooperation through the exchange of knowledge and institutional experience.
The visit is expected to provide fresh impetus to efforts aimed at establishing and further developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and Pakistan in religious education, academic exchanges and the training of qualified religious specialists.
