“The languages spoken in Pakistan should not be referred as regional. They are all national languages,” Punjabi writer Fakhruz Zaman said on Tuesday.
He was addressing a seminar held on account of the International Mother Language Day observed on February 21. It was part of a two-day national conference on role of languages in the economic and social development of Pakistan.
Zaman suggested that national universities in all Pakistani languages should be set up to promote these languages. He said, “A lot of fallacies are prevalent in Pakistan about role of languages. They need to be corrected.”
Writer Ataul Haq Qasmi read one of his articles on the importance [teaching of mother] languages deserved.
He said, “No language is less important that the other. All Pakistani languages should be respected.”
He said language was the most important way to connect people with others and to be civilised.
The speakers urged the participants to play their role in breaking stereotypes related to languages. Dr Inam Javed, the Alkhair University additional pro vice chancellor regretted that several languages had not been allowed to play their role in the socio-economic development in Pakistan.
He said, “Politics is not bad per se, but some politicians have always been making things complicated.”
Oriental College Lahore Principal Dr Arshad Mehmood Naushad, Prof Asmatullah Zahid, Dr Amjad Ali Bhatti, Dr Ahsan Wagha and Dr Wahid Bakhsh Bazdar were also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2013.