BAHAWALPUR: Federal Urdu University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal has rejected a move in the National Assembly to declare four regional languages as national languages, along with Urdu.

He was chief guest at the inauguration of three-day ‘International Urdu Conference’ at the central auditorium of Islamia University’s (IUB) Baghdadul Jadid campus here on Monday.

The event was organised jointly by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the IUB on the theme of ‘Urdu and 21st Century’.

Prof Iqbal termed the private bill moved in the assembly seeking national language status for Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pushto a new stunt which, he said, was aimed at undermining Urdu’s significance.

The bill has been referred to the concerned standing committee that will submit its report in the house.

Regretting that no lawmaker opposed the bill, Prof Iqbal said it might harm the country's integrity and solidarity and urged the parliament and the public to reject the move in national interest .

He welcomed the conference and said it would help encourage research on Urdu with reference to 21st century and dedicated the event to late Baba-i-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq.

In his presidential address, veteran writer Intizar Hussain remarked that after the creation of Pakistan and the declaration of Urdu as our national language "we forgot it" although before the partition, Urdu was the language of the whole sub-continent.

Writer, poet and rights activist Kishwar Naheed talked about girls’ rights and also recited some of her verses.

Zubair Rizvi from India said Urdu was a ‘joint asset’ of both countries, but added that atmosphere in Pakistan was more conducive for the restoration of Urdu’s lost status.

Dr Mahmoodul Islam from Bangladesh said it was unfortunate that Urdu was ‘looked down upon’ in his country and children having Urdu as their mother were being taught English.

He urged the Pakistani people and the government to work for promotion of the language.

IUB VC Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar apprised the participants of the steps taken for the projection of Urdu language and expressed the hope the event would prove a platform for promotion of Urdu in Pakistan and abroad.

Prof Dr Najeeb Jamal, who conducted the stage, stressed the need for promotion of Urdu.