‘Promotion of native languages key to development’

Karachi
No nation can prosper without giving importance to its native language.
This was the essence of the views shared by the participants at the international conference on “Urdu Social Media Summit” organised jointly by Karachi University’s Department of Mass Communication and the Urdu Source on Friday.
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, KU, Professor Dr Moonis Ahmar presided over the event.
Addressing the gathering, he said the prime focus of our young generation should be getting quality education and developing critical thinking approach and emphasized that time management was an ultimate key to success.
Dr Ahmar greeted the mass communication department on holding the international moot, saying the department should play a leading role in the faculty of social sciences.
In the opening speech, Professor Dr Mahmood Ghaznavi, acting head of the mass communication department, said that language was the prime identity of any nation and no nation could prosper without promoting its native language.
“Urdu is the second-most speaking language of the world. The secret of developed nations lies in the promotion of their mother tongue.”
Renowned media person and analyst Ghazi Salahuddin viewed English as a big barrier in development of the country, regretting “even the standard of English language has gone down in the recent times.”
He emphasised on the importance of Urdu language, saying without giving proper importance to it “we cannot prosper and develop.”
General Secretary, Karachi Bar Association, Manzoor Arain said that we have made our language contentious. “Urdu has always build a communication and friendly relations between different nations and cultures.”
He argued that Pakistan has not produced quality intellectuals because of the downfall of our native language. Sadly, the lawyer added, “we have acquired information but not education.”
Renowned social activist Rehan Allahwala said, “We can spread our voices through social media as it has empowered everyone.” He opined that importance of social media was undeniable and maintained that “we have become global citizens and social media helps us remain in contact with the whole world.”
Seasoned columnist Wusat Ullah Khan said that media has become an industry nowadays. “The social media is an important platform and we should not take it lightly. Anything written on it is impactful and vibrant,” he mentioned and added that “Urdu has lost its standard and it’s our mutual duty to revive it in its standardised form.”