ANKARA: Ambassador of Pakistan Sohail Mahmood hosted a reception at Pakistan House to celebrate the conferment of the prestigious civil award, “Sitar-e-Imtiaz”, upon Prof. Dr. Halil Toker, in recognition of his services for the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Turkey and strengthening Pakistan-Turkey cultural cooperation. The President of Pakistan had conferred the Award on Prof. Dr. Halil Toker during the special Investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on 23 March 2017. Addressing on the occasion, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood noted that Prof. Dr. Halil Toker had not only highlighted the contacts between the Muslims of South Asia and Ottoman Turkey but also effectively helped promote the Urdu language as one of the eternal bonds between Pakistan and Turkey.