Lahore Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director Prof. Dr. Halil Toker was awarded with "Sitara-i Imtiaz  (Privilege Star) Medal" by the State of Pakistan for his contributions to Urdu language and literature.

Lahore Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director Prof. Dr. Halil Toker was deemed worthy of "Sitara-i Imtiaz (Privilege Star) Medal" by sister country Pakistan. At the ceremony organized in presidential palace, Pakistani President Memnun Hüseyin presented Prof. Dr. Toker with the Sitara-i Imtiaz Medal for his services to promote Urdu language and literature and his contributions to the cultural collaborations between Pakistan and Turkey.

Prof. Dr. Halil Toker stated that Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres, which have carried out operations all over the world since 2009, have made great projects for introducing Turkey, Turkish language, literature, history, culture and art, and that he is honoured to be a part of these operations. Prof. Dr. Toker expressed his feelings for receiving the medal, as follows:

" The cultural institution of Turkey Yunus Emre Enstitüsü that claims the major Anatolian civilizations and aspires to bring the cultural heritage of these lands to different regions of the world, has undertaken an important role in introducing our historical and cultural heritage and making the ancient voice of the Turkish heard around the world. Enstitü named after Yunus Emre, an Anatolian Sufi who symbolizes humanitarian values, humanism and social peace, continues to take steps to promote Turkish language and culture in cultural centres all over the world.”

Prof. Dr. Halil Toker who carried out numerous studies on Urdu Language and Literature, and published books and academical works, is the Director of Lahore Yunus Emre Enstitüsü. Halil Toker, a faculty member in Urdu Language and Literature Department in Istanbul University Faculty of Letters Department of Eastern Languages and Literature, published nearly 50 books as "Understanding Kashmir Issue", "Turkey and Turks in Urdu Literature" and "Hindi Grammar", and more than 100 Turkish, Urdu and English articles.