• TULIP President Joins TİKA Tree-Planting Ceremony in Islamabad to Honor July 15 Martyrs

• 500 trees planted at Ankara Park establish a memorial forest symbolizing Türkiye-Pakistan brotherhood and remembrance of those who defended Turkish democracy in 2016

Islamabad: Mr. Saif ul Islam Khan, President of Türkiye Alumni Pakistan (TULIP), attended a tree-planting ceremony organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Islamabad Office to honor the memory of the martyrs of July 15, marking one of several commemorative events held internationally to mark the anniversary.

The July 15 Coup Attempt and Its Legacy

July 15 holds deep national significance in Türkiye, marking the anniversary of the failed 2016 coup attempt, during which a faction within the Turkish military attempted to seize control of the government. The attempt was met with widespread public resistance, as citizens took to the streets across the country to oppose the coup, resulting in significant loss of life among civilians and security personnel who stood against it.

In the years since, July 15 has been formally commemorated in Türkiye as the Democracy and National Unity Day, observed annually to honor those who lost their lives defending the country’s democratic institutions. The date has also become a focal point for Turkish diplomatic and cultural missions abroad, which frequently organize commemorative events in partnership with local institutions and diaspora or alumni organizations in countries with strong bilateral ties to Türkiye.

Pakistan and Türkiye share a longstanding relationship often described by officials from both countries as a close, brotherly partnership, spanning cultural, educational, and diplomatic cooperation. Organizations such as TİKA — Türkiye’s primary agency for international development and cultural cooperation — play a central role in maintaining and expanding these ties through programming in partner countries, including Pakistan.

The Ceremony

The tree-planting ceremony, organized by the TİKA Islamabad Office, saw 500 trees planted at Ankara Park in Islamabad, establishing what organizers have described as a memorial forest intended to serve as a lasting symbol of remembrance, Türkiye-Pakistan brotherhood, and a shared commitment to environmental sustainability.

Mr. Saif ul Islam Khan attended the event in his capacity as President of Türkiye Alumni Pakistan, an organization representing Pakistani alumni of Turkish educational institutions and programs, reflecting the close educational and cultural links that have developed between the two countries over recent years.

A Living Tribute

Organizers have framed the newly established memorial forest as a living tribute, one that will continue to grow over time as a symbol honoring those who defended Türkiye’s democracy during the events of July 15, 2016. The choice of a tree-planting ceremony as a form of commemoration reflects a broader trend among diplomatic missions and cultural organizations of pairing acts of remembrance with environmentally symbolic gestures, linking historical memory with an ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The event adds to a series of similar commemorative activities held by Turkish missions and partner organizations internationally each July, aimed at preserving the memory of the coup attempt’s victims while reinforcing bilateral cultural and diplomatic ties with host countries such as Pakistan.

Backgrounder — TİKA

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) is Türkiye’s international development-cooperation agency, established in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, initially to strengthen cooperation with newly independent Turkic republics and neighboring countries. Over time, its mandate expanded substantially, and TİKA now implements development-cooperation projects across more than 170 countries on five continents.

TİKA works across areas including healthcare, education, vocational training, agriculture, clean water and sanitation, women’s empowerment, energy, infrastructure, cultural cooperation, restoration, media and communication, and humanitarian assistance. Its official website currently reports more than 33,000 projects in 170 countries.

Institutionally, TİKA was initially established under Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was restructured in 2011, when its current name—Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency—was adopted. Since 2018, it has operated as a public legal entity with a special budget under Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

TİKA describes itself as the international implementing agency of the Turkish Development Cooperation Model, emphasizing people-centered, demand-oriented and sustainable cooperation tailored to partner-country priorities.

Pakistan relevance: TİKA has an active development-cooperation presence in Pakistan, including recent initiatives in healthcare and social assistance. Its official website reported in August 2026 that TİKA and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal signed an MoU for a centralized kitchen in Rawalpindi, while in July 2026 it announced the opening of a community-based mother-and-child healthcare centre in Raiwind, Lahore.

Official TİKA website