Mother Language Day: Sherpao wants official language status for Pashto

PESHAWAR: Underscoring the need for promoting mother languages, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Friday demanded the government to give the status of official language to Pashto.

He was addressing a seminar held in connection with the International Mother Language Day.Former senator Afrasiab Khattak, Afzal Shah Khamosh of Mazdoor Kissan Party, former IGP Akhtar Ali Shah, QWP’s Hashim Babar, literati and intellectuals were present.

Aftab Sherpao urged the government to take steps to promote Pashto and other languages spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He maintained that national progress was linked to imparting education in mother languages.

Highlighting the importance of mother tongue, Aftab Sherpao said developed countries imparted education to children in their own language to make them understand the concepts in a better way.

He said the government should make efforts for the promotion and preservation of regional languages. He also urged the literary organizations to join hands to play their role in promoting native languages. “A language links people to their culture,” he maintained, adding that ignoring one’s language was harmful for a nation.

Aftab Sherpao said Pakistan being a multilingual and multicultural society was home to around 70 languages.Demanding the promotion of the Pashto and other languages, he maintained the Constitution of Pakistan also called for promotion of regional languages.

He expressed concern over the extinction of some regional languages in the country. He said a language was the source of communication and education, therefore, its extinction discontinued the transfer of social values to the coming generation.

He said Pashto, Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi and Baluchi should be given national language status, adding that this would strengthen national identity and foster unity. He also demanded the establishment of Pashto language centres and said that organizing literary festivals and digital content creation in Pashto would ensure cultural preservation.

He also demanded the creation of one united province for Pakhtuns by giving due representation to all ethnic groups in national decision making bodies and ensuring fair distribution of resources to address political marginalization.

The QWP leader said the promises made at the time of merger of ex-Fata should be honoured. “The integration of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a step towards mainstreaming the region, but the government must fulfill its promises to ensure lasting benefits,” he added.

Commenting on the prevailing political situation, Aftab Sherpao said the media was under siege to curb dissenting voices. He said the constitution guaranteed freedom of expression, but the government was hell-bent on depriving people of their due rights.