Launching of first ever Urdu Digital Dictionary lauded

Islamabad: People from different walks of life welcomed the launching of first-ever Urdu Digital Dictionary by Urdu Dictionary Board (UDB), Karachi, terming it as a valuable asset for promotion of Urdu language among the younger generation.

The dictionary, comprising over 22 volumes, is available online for the users to assist them in learning Urdu language with actual meanings, pronunciation and sounds. The dictionary was compiled by UDB, Karachi under the supervision of National History and Literary Heritage (NHLH) Division.

Talking to APP, President of Pakistan National Language Movement Fatima Qamar said this is indeed a revolutionary step toward promotion of Urdu language taken by UDB and it will help younger generation in getting deep insight into Urdu language.

"The initiative of launching first ever Urdu Digital Dictionary would serve as milestone toward preservation and promotion of Urdu which is our national language," she said. Urdu Digital Dictionary, created in Nastaleeq Font, is easy to comprehend and readers can have access to the latest collection of words in standardised font through internet, she added.

Prominent Calligraphist, Wasil Shahid said implementation of Urdu as an official language is constitutional, legal and national duty and the present leadership is taking viable initiatives to realize this dream.

Reactivation of Urdu Dictionary Board was also a step toward this direction. He said this comprehensive dictionary will serve as a valuable gift for the literature lovers and young generation to quench their thirst for knowledge and discover Urdu language through modern facility.

The users will not face difficulties in finding the Urdu words and their meanings, pronunciation and sound patterns through this modern facility, he added. Prominent social activist, Dr. Jamal Nasir said, "this is the high time that we teach our children national language when they are idealising culture and language of others due to modern technology.

"Urdu Digital Dictionary will serve as impetus to invoke love for Urdu language among youngsters and instil book reading habit in them, he added. Shagufta Shahid, lecturer at a college appreciated the efforts of UDB for compiling this digital dictionary and said, this step would further the efforts of the government to implement Urdu as an official language.

The task of creating first-ever Urdu Dictionary was given to Urdu Dictionary Board after which the work was started under the supervision of Advisor to Prime Minister on NHLH, Irfan Siddiqui.

This state-of-the-art digital dictionary will enable the users to check meanings, synonyms and antonyms of the word in the first phase while during the second phase of the project, the readers will be given facility to check sound and pronunciation of a word through the internet.