Diriliş: Ertuğrul‘s Celal AL, who plays Abdur Rehman Alp in the superhit series, visited the Omair-Sana Foundation (OSF) and Children’s Hospital Karachi on Sunday, where he donated blood for children diagnosed with thalassemia.
“I’m donating my blood for Pakistani children suffering from thalassemia. This will not only strengthen the bond between Turkey and Pakistan but will also encourage others to donate blood for those who need blood donations for living normal lives,” said the actor during his visit on the invitation of administrations of both the health facilities.
Accompanied by the producer of the epic serial Kemal Tekdin, the Turkish actor during his visit also recited verses from the Holy Quran and raised slogans including “Jeevey Jeevey Pakistan“, “Pakistan-Turkey friendship zindabad” and vowed to visit Pakistan again.
The production team of Diriliş: Ertuğrul was invited to visit the Omair-Sana Foundation and Children Hospital Karachi by its founders Dr Kashif Ansari, a US-based oncologist, and Dr Saqib Ansari, an eminent pediatric hematologist who are striving to eliminate thalassemia and other blood disorders in Pakistan.
Emir Jamat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and dozens of fans of Ertuğrul’s cast and actors were also present on the occasion.
Dr Ansari said he was delighted that Celal AL and other team members of the Ertuğrul serial visited the hospitals and donated blood.
“Turkish blood is being donated for Pakistani children; this will further strengthen the bond between the two nations,” he said.
Speaking further on the occasion, Celal said he was delighted to visit Pakistan, especially the two wonderful health facilities where children suffering from genetic blood disorders were being treated and managed free of charge. He offered his complete support in the treatment of children with thalassemia and other blood disorders.
Celal, who spoke with the help of an interpreter, said Turks and Pakistanis are brothers but he was not expecting such love and affection for Turkey and its people in Pakistan.
He wished to continue visiting Pakistan whenever possible, saying mutual cooperation between the two countries and people should grow with each passing day.
Responding to a question, AL said he said he loved Pakistani food, especially biryani and lamb which he ate in Islamabad, adding that he wished to taste biryani in Karachi.
Later, in an Instagram post, AL wrote: “I’ve been lived most special moment of my life.”
Similarly, Kemal Tekdin said work was underway on two joint projects in Pakistan which were based on the lives of ‘Abdur Rehman Peshawari’ and ‘Babu Shah’. He said these plays would be produced both in Urdu and Turkish languages and would also be dubbed in English.
Oncologist Dr Kashif Ansari, who had invited the Turkish delegation to Pakistan said he wished to enhance cooperation in the field of media and entertainment industry between the two countries.
Ansari said that in the coming days, Pakistani children “instead of idolising Indian actors and film stars, will idolise Pakistani and Turkish stars and heroes in the history of Muslims”.
“We are working to produce a serial on the poetry and message of Allama Iqbal and Abdur Rehman Peshawari. Abdur Rehman Peshawari was a Muslim from the subcontinent who went to Turkey, fought along with Turkish brethren and also served as Turkey’s ambassador in Afghanistan. He got martyred there and now regarded as a hero in Turkey,” said the oncologist.
Meanwhile, later in the day, Celal attended a star-studded dinner hosted by Adnan Siddiqui and Humayun Saeed.
