ISLAMABAD: Writers, intellectuals and members of civil society on Monday called for declaring all major regional languages of the country as “national languages” to promote solidarity and national harmony.

During a public hearing on two almost identical private members’ bills on the issue before the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, the participants stressed the need for setting up a national commission to take steps for promotion of the languages and to devise a mechanism for declaring them national languages.

The participants were of the view that the languages should be included in the curricula as compulsory subjects in schools up to primary level.

The public hearing coincided with the International Mother Language Day to be observed on Tuesday.

The meeting was presided over by Javed Abbasi of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), who regretted that in the past nothing had been done for the promotion and protection of regional languages and mother tongues.

He said Pakistani languages were culturally rich and provided true reflection of the civilisation and history.

Senate committee holds public hearing on bills

One constitution amendment bill was moved by Sassui Palejo and Mukhtar Dhamra of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the other was jointly moved by all major political parties, including PPP and PML-N.

However, Ms Palejo’s bill was criticised by most participants — particularly those from south Punjab — for not including Seraiki in the bill as it only sought national language status for four major languages of the four provinces — Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi.

The second bill, piloted by PPP’s Dr Karim Khawaja, rooted for Seraiki, Brahvi and Hindko, besides the four main languages of the provinces to be declared as national languages.

The bill sought amendment to Article 251 of the Constitution. The proposed amendment said “after the word and comma ‘Urdu,’ the words and commas ‘Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Brahvi, Hindko and Saraiki’ shall be inserted”.

The Statement of Objects and Reasons attached to the bill read: “The constitution of Pakistan is a mother document of the country which should recognise all languages equally and does not set preference of one language over the other. Thus, the objective of this bill is to recognise all languages in constitution and set an example of having acceptance for all Pakistanis speaking any language, and belonging to any corner of the country. This will ensure equality among the citizens”.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017