Draft:Muhammad Sabir

Muhammad Sabir (1935-2009) was a Pakistani Turkologist. He was a dean at the University of Karachi. 

Career
In 1961 he was awarded a PhD in Turkology from Istanbul University’s faculty of literature, becoming the first Pakistani to hold a doctorate in the subject.

He worked as a translator for Turkish president Cemal Gursel during his visit to Pakistan in 1962.

Sabir penned hundreds of research articles in Urdu, English, Turkish, and Persian, regarding Pak-Turk historical linkages, Central Asia, Ottoman, Timurid (Mughal) & Safavid history & literature.

His works included the subcontinent's first Urdu-Turkish dictionary, which he compiled in collaboration with scholars in Pakistan and Turkey, in 1968. A Major Contributor to Pak-Turkish Friendship, he authored ; The first Turkish-Urdu dictionary in 1968. Ottoman History “Turkan-e-Usmani“ in Urdu 1967.

Compiled the Turki Divans of Babur (1966) & Bayram Khan, 1969. Translated Allama Iqbal’s poems in Turkish first time in 1960. Translated in Urdu first official biography of national poet of Turkey, Mehmet Akif, 1973

He is considered pioneer of Classical Turki or Chaghatai Language in the sub-continent, which was the mother tongue of Baburi Dynasty.

During his stay in Istanbul while pursuing his Doctorate he came in to contact with some of the greatest political & literary personalities of Islamic world such as Dr. Zeki Validi Togan, Dr. Ali Nihat Tarlan, Dr. Ahmet Jafer Oglu, Grand Mufti of Palestine, Amin-ul-Husaini, Dr. Hamidullah, Former Ameer of Bukhara, East Turkistan Leaders Isa Yousuf Alptegin, Amin Bughra.

Among Turkish independence leaders he closely interacted with Ismet Pasha, General Jawad Rifat Atil Han, Ashraf Edip, Halide Edip, Necip Fazil kisakurek, Nihal Atsiz, Hamdullah Subhi Tanriover & several other notables.