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<h1>Mother Languages Literature Festival Calls For National Policy For Protection Of Languages </h1>
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<a href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/team/faizan-hashmi.html">Faizan Hashmi</a>
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<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-clock-o"></i> 2 days ago </span>
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<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-calendar-o"></i> Sat 17th February 2018 | 08:13 PM </span>
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<h2>Speakers at 3rd Mother Languages Literature Festival (MLLF) stressed
upon need to formulate national policy for integration, protection and
promotion of all mother languages of Pakistan, and declare the mother
languages as National Languages, alongside Urdu</h2>
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<p>ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018
):Speakers at 3rd Mother Languages Literature Festival (MLLF) stressed
upon need to formulate national policy for integration, protection and
promotion of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/all.html">all</a> mother languages of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a>, and declare the mother languages as National Languages, alongside Urdu. </p><p>The
panelists urged the parliamentarians to draft comprehensive legislation
for mainstreaming the distinct regional culture, documentation of
endangered languages. Indus Cultural Forum (ICF)-a voluntary
organization of literary and cultural activists- joined hands with Lok
Virsa and Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) in <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/2016.html">2016</a> to arrange first of its kind and unique festival. </p><p>This year festival is sponsored by <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/sindh.html">Sindh</a>
Government's Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Foundation
Open Society Institute (FOSI), Lok Virsa and Heinrich Boll Stiftung
(HBS). In her keynote address to the inaugural session, renowned Sindhi
and Urdu fiction writer, playwright and activist Noorul Hada Shah said
that culture is source of human integration, social harmony and peace in
the society that "we direly need during these defining circumstances.</p><p style="margin-top:0px">" She said the call for promotion of mother languages will not harm the federation rather bring societies close to each other. </p><p>"Languages are source of expression only, they <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/lead.html">lead</a>
to ultimate language- the language of love and co-existence. We should
never consider diversity as conflict." ICF Chairman Niaz Nadeem shared
the background and detailed program of the two-day festival and
highlighted that like every year, over 100 writers, poets and artists
representing up to 20 languages are participating in the sessions. </p><p>There
will be over 20 sessions in addition to opening and closing ceremonies
as well as musical evenings on both days. "We are also marking the 70th
anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and there
will be dedicated session to pay tribute to Asma Jehangir. </p><p>Over
20 new books of mother languages on fiction poetry and history will also
be inaugurated at the festival." Acting Country Director of Heinrich
B'll Stiftung <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a> Jacqueline Wilk said she loved Pakistani culture, especially as <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/student.html">student</a> of the anthropology, "I have always been fascinated by the cultural and linguistic diversity of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a>. </p><p>This rich heritage is a strength of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a>
as a society at large and a distinguished feature of its past and
present. However many people I met across the country are not aware of
this diversity and the different shades of what it can mean to be a
"Pakistani". </p><p>I am therefore glad and very excited about this excellent initiative of Mother Languages Literature Festival to be held here in <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/islamabad.html">Islamabad</a> to celebrate the plurality of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a>".
She said the Heinrich B'll Stiftung is proud to be partnering with such
a dedicated and committed group of volunteers like the Indus Cultural
Forum and are looking forward to an excellent <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/event.html">event</a>. </p><p> Dr Saba Gul Khattak, proposed for establishment of <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a> Cultural Fund for fund generation to be utilized for promotion and preservation of culture in <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a>. She insisted for local resourcing for culture-related funds, and the governments should play their role as well. </p><p>She said culture guarantees human rights, and <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/education.html">education</a> in mother language confirms proper learning for kids. ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) and <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/pakistan.html">Pakistan</a> Science Foundation (PSF) have sponsored two fun filled days for youth and children to promote science culture. </p><p>Society for Alternate <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/media.html">Media</a>
and Research (SAMAR) have also supported in the organization of
different aspects of the festival. On this occasion book stalls,
showcasing books <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/from.html">from</a> different Pakistani languages, will also be established to provide easy access to literature in these languages. </p><p>A great number of people <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/from.html">from</a> <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/all.html">all</a> over the country and abroad are expected to attend the Festival. The participants in the opening session paid tribute to <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/asma-jahangir.html">Asma Jahangir</a>, noted human rights activist who recently <a target="_blank" class="gmail-txt_link" href="https://www.urdupoint.com/en/latest-news/died.html">died</a>, and observed one-minute silence.</p> </div></div></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
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