HYDERABAD, Dec 12: The world Punjabi Congress chief Fakharuz Zaman has stressed the need for a dialogue among federating units to solve issues like distribution of water and resources.

He said that a judicious distribution of water could not be ensured through slogans, but through a dialogue.

He was speaking to journalists at the Meet the Press Programme of the Hyderabad press club on Monday.

He stressed the need for interaction among intelligentsia through conferences to eliminate misgivings and differences.

He was of the view that an open debate was also needed among the people to discuss contentious issues which were outcome of a communication gap.

He said that jaundiced eyes should not be used by any one while evaluating some ones problems.

Dispelling the impression created by nationalists that Punjab is responsible for exploitation of smaller provinces, Mr Zaman said that millions of peasants who formed the majority in Punjab had nothing to do with any exploitation done by the elite.

He said the people of Punjab had always opposed dictatorship and rendered tremendous sacrifices for democracy.

He recalled that following the judicial murder of Prime Minister Z. A. Bhutto, eight Punjabis had burnt themselves in protest and tens of thousands of others were flogged and imprisoned.

He said that during the MRD, Sindh had rendered unforgettable sacrifices but Punjab too had played its due role against the dictatorship and condemned the Thori Phatak incident.

He said that the establishment also did not exclusively consist of Punjabis.

WPC chief said this was time to distinguish between exploitative forces and those who were being repressed.

He said that the exploitative forces were present in all provinces in the shape of Waderas, Choudhris, Khans and Sardars. He said that unless feudal and tribal system and jirga were abolished, misconceptions among the people of federating units could not be removed.

He said Waderas, Choudhris, Sardars and Khans had adopted the same modus operandi of divide and rule to further their own interests.

He said all the languages of Pakistan be given the status of national languages.

He said it was an irony that the language spoken by 60 to 70 million of Punjab had not been recognized as a national language.

He said the World Punjabi Congress was striving hard that all the languages of Pakistan be given the status of national language.

Mr Zaman said it was due to the struggle of the Punjabi congress that MPAs of the Punjab Assembly were now allowed to deliver their speeches in their mother tongue.

He regretted that 15,000 highly-qualified scholars of Punjabi literature had not been provided jobs.

He said the “Babucracy” of Punjab was opposed to Punjabi language.

He said the Lahore declaration of the Punjabi Congress had clearly stated that all the languages of Pakistan be acknowledged as national languages.

He said that languages go a long way in promoting national integrity and fraternity among all the people of federating units.

He said to term these languages as “regional languages” was most insulting.

He said that promotion of all the languages of Pakistan did not mean any contradiction with Urdu language which was very dear to every one as it was the language of Mir, Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz and Josh.

He said the WPC was making efforts that Punjabi should become medium of instruction at the primary level like all other languages in other provinces.

He said that when a federal Urdu university could be established in Islamabad, there was no reason why another university should not be established for the promotion of native languages.

Mr Zaman said that a Punjabi university was being set up in Lahore in the private sector with or without government help where all the languages of Pakistan would be taught.

He said that this would go a long way in the promotion of national integration.

He said that Madhulal Shah Hussain day would be commemorated in Lahore in next March and scholars from 25 countries would attend the conference.