The ignored Dardic languages
Pakistan is home to over 70 languages. Some ten of them are widely spoken; the remaining ones are struggling to survive. In the north of Pakistan, there is a vast…
Assault on provincial autonomy
Overriding the constitution, the PTI government has rolled out the Single National Curriculum (SNC), which is to be implemented in a phased manner. Phase one is currently underway, covering pre-primary…
Time to activate provincial HECs
In view of some recent decisions and policies of the HEC, and keeping in mind the post-18th Amendment educational scene in the country, perhaps it is the right time to…
Time to activate provincial HECs
In view of some recent decisions and policies of the HEC, and keeping in mind the post-18th Amendment educational scene in the country, perhaps it is the right time to…
SNC and languages
Since the Single National Curriculum was made public by the incumbent government a rigorous debate has emerged, involving prominent experts in education and language policies. The critics deem the SNC…
Campaigning for languages
Pakistan is often seen as, and rightly so, a hard country for campaigns. Campaigns, whether on human rights, education, civil liberty, constitutional rights; on environment, culture or languages often face…
Saving local languages
The cabinet division recently issued a letter to other federal departments directing them to use Urdu in their public and official correspondence. The directive also states that the president, prime…
All national languages
Commendable moves are under way in Peshawar where the provincial cabinet committee on the teaching of mother tongues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently approved a multi-lingual formula. Pushto, along with Hindko,…
Language Day
LAST Monday was International Mother Language Day. In Pakistan some seminars were held but they had no impact on the national discourse. Few in this country consider language a significant…
Linguistic arrogance
Language is the mirror of a culture. Language is heritage. Language is literacy. Language is progress. Language is an exam. Language is a burden. Language is a divide. These are…
