Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah Attends Turkish Heritage Festival in Chicago

CHICAGO: Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah attended the Third Turkish Heritage Festival organized by the Zakat Foundation of America in Chicago, where he highlighted the enduring brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and underscored the importance of cultural exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations.

During his visit, the minister toured various cultural, informational and community stalls and praised the organizers for successfully hosting the festival, describing it as an excellent platform for promoting intercultural understanding and community engagement.

Speaking to the media, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye was built on mutual respect, brotherhood and shared values. He said cultural festivals played a vital role in bringing the people of the two countries closer together while fostering stronger people-to-people links.

The minister said it was an honour to represent Pakistan at the event and commended the Zakat Foundation of America for organizing a vibrant and meaningful festival. He noted that both the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and the Zakat Foundation shared a common commitment to poverty alleviation and the welfare of vulnerable communities, adding that exchanging ideas and experiences through such platforms was highly valuable.

Syed Imran Ahmad Shah also appreciated the enthusiastic participation of both Muslim and non-Muslim communities, saying such events promoted intercultural harmony, social cohesion and mutual respect. He congratulated the organizers on the successful event and expressed hope that similar initiatives would continue to strengthen friendship, cooperation and goodwill among people of different cultures and nationalities.