Adnan Aamir
Quetta: Former Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch, has said that Mother Languages are our identity and we should make all possible efforts to preserve them.
He said this while addressing International Mother’s Language Day Program held in Quetta Press Club under auspices of Balochi Libzanki Deewan and with support of Balochistan Academy of Science and Research, on Tuesday.
Dr. Malik Baloch, who was the chief guest of the program, said that regional languages are the strength of Pakistan but they are being neglected which is unfortunate.
Listing down his contribution for mother languages in Balochistan, Dr. Malik said “We declared 2014 as the year of Gul Khan Naseer and sponsored over a dozen books written on his life.”
“I tried to make functional the cultural center in Balochistan but could not be fully successful due to bureaucratic hurdles,” he claimed.
Munir Badini, former Secretary Education, presided the program. He claimed that if children are taught in their mother tongue till primary then it will enable them to learn foreign languages such as English very easily.
Qaisar Jamali, who was representing UNESCO, said that mother languages can be preserved by highlighting their economic aspect. He claimed that UNESCO is committed for promotion and preservation of mother languages in Balochistan.
Yar Jan Badini, Chairman of Balochi Libzanki Deewan, said that there is a dire need of promotion of mother languages in Balochistan.
Yar Jan Badini presented four resolutions for approval in the program:
1) Paying tribute to the recently deceased Gul Bano who was daughter of Gul Khan Naseer
2) Government of Balochistan should implement the policy that 25 percent advertisements provided by Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) should go for newspapers and magazines published in regional languages.
3) UNESCO should take steps for preservation of local languages in Balochistan.
4) In the census pro-forma column of nation should also be added along with the column of mother tongue.
Others who addressed the program included Senior Journalist Irfan Baig, representatives of Hazargi Academy Ali Afzal Hamdam and provincial chief of Pakistan Academy of Letters Afzal Murad amongst others.
Noor Khan Muhammad Hassani former Director General Public Relations (DGPR) moderated the program.
Earlier today, Raah Shown Adabi Deewan also arranged a program to commemorate International Mother Language’s day at Officers club Quetta. Students, writers, columnists and other people participated in program in large number.
Mr. Shabbir Shahwani Chairman Brahvi Department University of Balochistan and Dr. Shah Muhammad Marri amongst others addressed the program.
Yahya Reki also contributed to this report.
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