Govt asked to expedite work on mother languages curriculum

CHITRAL: On the international mother languages day held on Feb 21, speakers at an event in Peshawar asked the government to expedite work on the mother tongue curriculum policy for which the provincial assembly had passed a bill in 2012.

Meanwhile, speakers at a function arranged in Chitral also stressed the need to take steps both at the official and civil society levels to protect over a dozen languages spoken in Chitral.

The function was held at the local press club in connection with the international other languages day.

The event was organized by Khowar Ahle Qalam and chaired by Salahuddin Toofan and Musarrat Baig Musarrat.

Researchers on different languages spoken in Chitral, including Khalid Faraq Andleeb (Gojri), Allauddin Hyderi (Yadgha), Qari Tahiruddin Shadan, Mehboobul Haq Haqqi (Khowar) and Salahuddin Toofan (Paloma).

Speakers including Mr Toofan, Ahle Qalam chairman Muhamamd Kausar Advocate and general secretary Iqraruddin Khisrau said all the 14 languages spoken in Chitral were facing extinction due to invasion of foreign languages and media of mass communication.

They said technological advancement was also causing wide ranging changes in daily life of the locals, including the indigenous utensils used in agriculture in the past.

Through a resolution, the participants demanded that all local languages should be declared national languages of Pakistan and a share from the funds allocated for promotion of languages and cultures at the provincial level should be given to Chitral to preserve and promote all the languages and dialects in the valley.

They also called for allocation of time for the languages of Chitralin both public and private radios and television channels.–Muhkam Uddin Ayuni

 Mother languages curriculum

Meanwhile, speakers at a function in Peshawar urged the government to speed up work on implementation of mother tongues curriculum policy approved by the provincial assembly in 2012.

The event was held under the auspices of culture directorate and Islamia College University at Khyber Union Hall.

The participants through a resolution asked the provincial government to allocate funds for enforcing the curriculum policy of imparting education in five major languages including Pashto, Hindko, Saraiki, Khowar and Kohistani being spoken in the province.

They said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was home to more than 20 languages that needed to be persevered and promoted through literary and cultural events.

A large number of students, teachers, literati, researchers, rights activists and language experts attended the function.