Promotion of national language stressed

LAHORE: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood has said that the national language is a prime source of civilisation and culture and promotion of national language is a demand of the contemporary world.

He was addressing a one-day national conference on ‘Urdu Fiction & Novel in Local and Global Context’ at Sherani Hall (Old Campus) here on Friday. On this occasion, Turkish Consul General, Lahore Durmus Bastug, DG National Language Promotion Department, Islamabad Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Principal Oriental College Prof Dr Nabila Rehman, Director Institute of Urdu Language and Literature Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran, researchers, faculty members and students were present.

In his address, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood said that practical measures for the promotion of national language were the most important need of the hour. He said that such conferences gave young scholars ample opportunity to benefit from the experiences of experts.

Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Sanjrani discussed the importance of Urdu literature, especially Urdu fiction, in the keynote lecture. Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran said that the institution would continue to play its role in the promotion of literature in Urdu language. In the conference, Dr Safeer Haider, Dr Khalid Fayaz, Dr Amara Tariq, Dr Rehana Kausar, Dr Ayesha Maqsood, Dr Mazhar Abbas, Dr Shahid Nawaz and Faisal Iqbal presented their papers.

Indian elections impact on Pakistan discussed

Punjab University’s Pakistan Study Centre (PSC) organised a seminar on ‘Indian Elections 2024: Implications for Pakistan’.

According to a press release, on this occasion, Director PSC Prof Dr Naumana Kiran, former HoD, Department of Politics and International Relations, faculty members and MPhil, PhD scholars were present. In her address, Dr Naumana Kiran said that the moderate mindset had shown its preference for Congress led coalition in the recent elections. She said that the newly elected government in India would gradually show positive change in the policy towards Pakistan. In his keynote address, Dr Muhammad Rashid Khan highlighted significant shifts in Indian politics and their potential effects on Pakistan. He said that the recent Indian elections were a setback for the ruling BJP, failing to secure a two-thirds majority. He said that the opposition alliance, ‘INDIA’ led by the Congress party, significantly increased its seat count, reflecting a rejection of Modi's Hindu state ambitions in favour of preserving India's secular fabric.