Official Urdu

One gets perturbed at the ruling party’s indifference towards the serious implications of implementing Urdu as the official language. At present, the terminology and vocabulary of the English language is being used in laws, business and commerce, medicine, engineering and science. Technical terminology has not been developed so far in Urdu. The terminology acquired from Persian and Arabic languages is restricted to textbooks at high school/intermediate levels mostly.

Moreover, technical terms are being added in English at an unprecedented speed and it would be impossible for other languages – including Urdu – to catch up accordingly. Even Persian and Arabic languages do not possess substitute terms relating to computer, medicine and engineering terminologies. Our parliamentarians should figure out a way as soon as possible.

Dr Najeeb A Khan

Islamabad