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<a id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_HyperLinkMain" class="" style="text-decoration:none">Govt drags its feet on making Urdu official language</a>
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<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblSubHeading" class="" style="color:White;font-weight:bold">Bureaucrats all active to sabotage the move; language experts argue making Urdu official language will not marginalise English</span>
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<a id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_HyperLinkReporter" title="Read all articles / stories Ahmad Noorani" class="" href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintWriterName.aspx?ID=13&URL=Ahmad%20Noorani" style="font-style:italic">Ahmad Noorani<br></a>
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDate" class="">Monday, September 14, 2015</span>
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<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblNewsDetailMain"><b><p>ISLAMABAD:
While certain lobbies have become active against enforcement of Urdu,
the federal government has taken steps which are next to nothing to
practically make Urdu an official language at all levels in order to
Implement August 8 Supreme Court judgment ordering fulfilling the
constitutional obligation regarding national language.</p></b><p> </p><p>The
Cabinet Division, which is the relevant body to advance immediate
practicable step towards enforcement of Urdu as an official language at
all tiers of government, hasn’t even contacted the National Language
Authority (officially called National Language Promotion Department
(NLPD) for any kind of consultations.</p><p> </p><p>More than 80% of
population in Pakistan does not understand English and is thus not only
deprived of becoming part of national development, but is also unable to
understand official communications.</p><p> </p><p>International bodies
like Unesco and all researches establish that best education can be
imparted in bilingual or multilingual systems by giving basic importance
to the basic language understandable at large. </p><p> </p><p>Not
following this basic and natural principle deprives people of learning
basics of knowledge and subjects and creative thinking and innovative
approach becomes causality.</p><p> </p><p>On the other hand, local as
well as international media has launched a full-fledged campaign against
possible enforcement of Urdu in Pakistan. Many arguments are being made
about practical difficulties that can emerge in case of enforcement of
Urdu as official language and some international media outlets have
attempted to give the issue an ethnic colouring so to make the whole
issue controversial. </p><p> </p><p>The basic impression that is being
created is that English would be completely eliminated or marginalized
and Urdu will be adopted which will deprive Pakistanis of communicating
with the outer world. </p><p> </p><p>According to those working for
enforcement of Urdu as official language, English is neither being
marginalized nor could it be for being an international language and the
language of science and technology. </p><p> </p><p>Language experts
argue that making Urdu an official language has nothing to do with
marginalizing of English as it will continue to be a very important
language subject of all curriculums at all levels. Professor Fateh
Muhammad Malik, renowned language expert and former head of NLPD, told
The News that in case of adopting Urdu as a national language in the
real sense and studying it as the basic language will only further
strengthen understanding and expertise of people in English. </p><p> </p><p>He
said at present the pathetic standards of use of English by majority of
those who can speak or write English are because of the fact that they
don’t have grip on the literature of their basic language and thus could
never learn English perfectly.</p><p> </p><p>Another argument raised by
the local media regarding ‘great’ hurdles and difficulties that nation
would face in case of enforcement of Urdu was that majority of IT
related projects, software and databases including land record
computerization developed by the federal as well as Punjab government
will become redundant. However, when this scribe contacted Umar Saif who
is the creator of majority of these projects and heads Punjab
Information Technology Board (PITB) told The News that it is absolutely
wrong to say that any of projects of his department would become
‘redundant’ or face any kind of problem in case of enforcement of Urdu.</p><p> </p><p>He
explained that land record computerization is already 100% in Urdu
language. He said some of the software applications which are in English
are for internal use and have nothing to do with the implementation of
Supreme Court judgment. </p><p> </p><p>Umar Saif said his department was
working translating all laws into Urdu and more than 70% of the work
has already been completed. He said his department was also working now
to change all government websites in Urdu which will also be completed
soon. </p><p> </p><p>Now it is obvious that an English version of all
these websites will remain present but only for the ease and
understanding of general public the official websites will be in Urdu.
Despite this, people opposing Urdu have problem with this as they want
only English as medium of communication keeping aside common people
understand it or not. </p><p> </p><p>Language experts argue that
importance of basic language and understanding and attachment of
Pakistani people at large can be well understood from the fact that
three media groups of Pakistan namely Geo and Jang Group, DAWN media
Group and Express failed to successfully launch an English channel
because people feel more comfortable with their national language.</p><p> </p><p>Another
issue which was highlighted in an Urdu column was that if Urdu is made
official language it will be like forcefully enforcing it on some
communities which do not speak Urdu as their mother tongue like Pashto.
However, Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik also dispelled this impression
and maintained that at present people speaking any language Punjabi,
Sindhi, Seraiki, Pushto, Balochi, Hindko not only communicate in Urdu
with each other, well understand their national language but also own
Urdu as their own language. </p><p> </p><p>He said Ahmad Fraz, Farigh
Bokhari, Khatir Ghaznavi, Mohsin Ehsan were all Pushtoon with Pushto as
their mother language but were great poets of Urdu. He said when a
Pakhtoon Mufti Mehmood became chief minister of KP (then NWFP) he
ordered that Urdu will be the official language of the province. He said
Mir Ghaus Bukhsh Bazenjo took similar steps in Balochistan. He
completely rejected attempts to give ethnic colouring to the enforcement
of Urdu saying all these are made-up arguments to frustrate the present
process of unifying the nation. </p><p> </p><p>He said that different
surveys are presented to show the ratio of people speaking different
languages. He said that when during a survey you will ask a question to
any citizen which language he speaks, he will respond that he speaks
Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Urdu, Balochi, Seraiki etc and the surveyor
will calculate the ratio. </p><p> </p><p>He said the real survey will be
to ask people across the Pakistan “can you speak or write Urdu” and
then to ask “can you speak or write English”. He said that more than 90%
of people will be expert of Urdu while a similar percentage will be
clueless about English.</p><p> </p><p>Referring to the conspiracy that
present move will marginalize the English, he pressed the need to
further strengthen the education of English as a language as it has
great importance. He said learning English as a language and learning
different knowledge in English are two entirely different things and are
being confused. </p><p> </p><p>He said that if he reads five English
newspapers in the morning he could not get comprehensive overview of
local, national and international developments. Even senior journalists
writing for different English newspapers used to say that they couldn’t
get enough information by reading all English newspapers which they get
merely after reading one Urdu newspaper Daily Jang.</p><p> </p><p>It is
clear in Article 251 of the constitution that respective provinces can
develop their basic syllabus in their regional languages so to more
empower their people. According to Unesco website, “Unesco promotes
mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual approaches in education -
an important factor for inclusion and quality in education. Research
shows this has a positive impact on learning and learning outcomes. The
Organization provides normative frameworks for language policy and
education and shares good practices in bilingual and multilingual
education and mother tongue instruction.” </p><p> </p><p>When attention
of these English language advocates is diverted to this basic
internationally accepted principle, they come up with the argument that
Urdu is not the mother tongue of majority of Pakistanis. </p><p> </p><p>A
September 12 BBC story quoted ratio of first language of Pakistanis as
48% Punjabi, 12% Sindhi, 10% Seraiki, 8% Pashto, 8% Urdu and 3% Balochi.
However, majority of these speak Urdu at their homes and can well
understand Urdu. Not only this, their only way communication with each
other right from the childhood is Urdu. Also there is no ban on adopting
these languages at a primary level for very basic education of child. </p><p> </p><p>Most
importantly, Unesco is pressing a multi-lingual system of education and
only giving basic importance to most basic language of the society.
Both liberal and religious circles are not happy as one wants promotion
of Arabic while the other insists on adopting English at all level.
Whereas language experts believe that this is not a religious or
ideological issue, it is the issue of ease, education and understanding
of common people as per universally accepted principles. </p><p> </p><p>Professor
Fateh Muhammad Malik said bureaucracy and establishment are basic
hurdles in enforcement of Urdu as national language. He said the rulers
are totally surrounded by these elements and they never allow rulers to
take independent decisions. He said the basic problem is the will and
sincerity of rulers. </p><p> </p><p>There is another objection that Urdu
already in use at patwari, tehsildar level, in courts and in police
stations is not understandable by the common citizens. Language experts
say that it is because Urdu is not given that much importance in our
syllabus as a major language. If these terms are made part of our
syllabus, everyone one will understand them. Also all terms of all
subjects are not understandable by every citizen. Even a person with
English as one’s mother language would not be knowing all English words
used in all fields of study.</p><p> </p><p>At present Dr Jamal Nasir is
head of National Language Authority (NLPD). Dr Jamal is a Pushtoon
belonging to tribal areas. On being questioned by The News he said his
department was all equipped to enforce Urdu at all official levels. He
said that work and research on all aspects is already complete. </p><p> </p><p>He
said there was a basic need that a 200 marks paper of Urdu language is
immediately made mandatory subject for CSS and all other competitive
examinations at federal and provincial levels. He said without such
basic steps to train and encourage bureaucracy to learn and implement
Urdu for the ease of common people real enforcement of the national
language will not be possible. </p><p> </p><p>According to experts that
Pakistanis will be disconnected from the world after enforcement of Urdu
is baseless and English will remain an important subject and everyone,
especially those who want to go abroad for education or employment will
learn English with more ease and attain more expertise. </p><p> </p><p>Experts
say German, French, Chinese and Japanese only progress as a nation as
they taught all knowledge to their children in their national language.
English is a minority language even in Europe as of today. </p><p> </p><p>During
a recent presser with German Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart
spoke in English instead of his national language whereas German spoke
in his national language. Those teaching lesson of diplomatic sciences
to Pakistanis and highlighting Pakistan’s weaker position on many fronts
are not only simply unaware of diplomatic principles and basics but
also are unaware of importance of Pakistan. </p><p> </p><p>According to
experts, when it comes to making women part of the national progress
they will argue that progress is impossible if 50% women will not
participate in national development as its on their agenda but when it
will come to making Urdu as official language instead of English which
is depriving 80% Pakistanis to become part of national progress, they
will oppose it as it is not on their agenda.</p><p> </p><p>Experts
working for enforcement of Urdu say the prime minister just needs to
understand that only the opinion given to him by the DMG bureaucrats,
his information ministry and other closely associated is not the perfect
one and he needs to consult concerned experts, top literary figures,
language experts, professors educationists, seasoned politicians, top
international education and language experts and consultants, needs to
consult Unesco’s officials concerned to reach some conclusion. </p><p> </p><p>If
the prime minister will rely on advise of DMG baboos or information
ministry, 80% Pakistanis will always remain deprived of becoming part of
national progress or to understand official communications or what is
being forcefully taught to them and hence will always remain deprive of
having any creative ability to perform in fields of science, literature,
economy or any other field.</p><p><a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-39651-Govt-drags-its-feet-on-making-Urdu-official-language">http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-39651-Govt-drags-its-feet-on-making-Urdu-official-language</a><br></p></span><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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