ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Three Pakistani researchers have come up with the suggestion that peace can be ensured in the country by increasing the number of national languages.

Prof Akhtar Abbas, Dr Wasima Shehzad and Saadat Hassan presented their research paper at the “International conference on languages’ which was held from November 15 to 17 in Thailand.

The theme of the paper was ‘Solidarity through languages’. Prof Abbas, along with the co-authors, brought a language policy model to the forefront.

This model was appreciated for its practical recommendations that could be vital in reinventing a country’s language policy.

While talking to Dawn, Prof Abbas said during the last 67 years differences among the people of the country had been increasing because of languages.

In Sindh, the issue of Sindhi and Mohajir was raised because of the differences of the languages.

In Balochistan, the Balochi-speaking people have been feeling threatened that their language would vanish because of the rising population of Pashtoons.

In reaction, the Baloch have been trying to force the settlers (Punjabi and Pashto speaking) to leave the province.

The demand for the Seraiki province was also on the basis of language, he said.

“If we increase the number of national languages, most of the grievances of different ethnic groups will be addressed,” he said.

In reply to a question, Prof Abbas said in Switzerland there were four national languages. In Nigeria, the number of national languages is two while in South Africa there were 10 official languages.

There is no official language in India because the official language of the country is not mentioned in its constitution. So all the languages have been thriving in India, he said.

He said Pakistan had no language policy and the National Language Authority (NLA) had been working for the preservation of the Urdu language.

“Through the research paper, we proposed that recognition should be given to other languages of Pakistan. Urdu should be further purified and local languages should be preserved by giving them the status of national languages,” he said.

It was also proposed that the ‘National Institute of Pakistani Languages’ should be established to promote and preserve all languages in the country.