KARACHI, May 23: The first formal meeting of the newly established Department of Composition, Compilation and Translation (CC&T) at the Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology was held on Saturday.

Deputy chairman of the varsity senate Jamiluddin Aali, who is also the honorary head of the said department, said the new body would not only publish books but would also arrange such publications through the National Language Authority, Urdu Science Board and Anjuman Taraqi-e-Urdu Pakistan.

He mentioned that it was the varsity's policy that translations of high standard books be ensured and publications of CC&T department be priced in match to the purchasing power of students.

He said the university would further ensure that students of other universities also benefit from the books developed at FUU. The chief administrator of the university, Aftab Ahmad Khan, said that establishment of the CC&T department was a major development with an objective to arrange maximum translation and publication of books in Urdu.

To achieve our objective, we seek co-operation from all educational and literary institutions and intellectuals of the country, he added. Chairman of Muqtadira Qaumi Zuban Dr Prof Fatah Muhammad Malik said the basic task of his organisation was to make Urdu the national language and medium of education in the country.

While, Khalid Iqbal Yasir, director of Urdu Science Board said his organisation, which publishes books in the fields of natural and social sciences, was ready to extend all possible co-operation to FUU.

The dean of sciences of FUU, Prof Muhammad Saeed said that old published books in Urdu were not fulfilling the course requirements, and as such there was a dire need for updating the curricula and bringing it in line with the present day needs.

Dean of Arts Dr Zafar Iqbal stressed the need for book development in consultation with experts in related fields. The meeting resolved to send a new project proposal costing Rs37.5 million to the Higher Education Commission immediately so that translation and compilation work could be launched at the beginning of the new financial year, said a press release of the university.