PESHAWAR: Senior Pashto writers and language experts here on Saturday agreed on forming a board for the improvement and standardisation of Pashto script and also to expand the dialogue on culture and promote the narrative of peace in the region.

The heads of publishing houses, editors, language experts, teachers and writers gathered to develop a consensus on steps towards standardisation of Pashto script.

The writers vowed to involve scholars and linguists from Pashto academies in Peshawar, Quetta and Kabul to put forward suggestions for setting up Pashto language authority (PLA) to proofread, improve and publish contents regarding Pakhtuns, their art, culture, society, economy, politics and make the same free from hatred and to strengthen a strong peace narrative.

Writers vow to work for setting up Pashto language authority

The speakers regretted that most so-called educated Pakhtuns could neither read nor write Pashto script though a standardised Pashto script had been evolved over three decades ago in Bara Gali duly signed by language experts and Pashto writers from Afghanistan, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hayat Roghani said on the occasion that Bacha Khan Trust would take the responsibility to act as liaison among the stakeholders and also to publish contents in the form of pamphlets.

He said that BKT would encourage language experts and academics to hold cultural dialogues and seminars regardless of political affiliations.

Around 54 delegates from parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including tribal districts, shared their views at the event. Noted writers, including Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai, Hayat Roghani, Faizul Wahab Faiz, Prof Samiuddin Arman, Kalsoom Zeb, Noorul Basar Aman, Iqbal Momand, Zafarullah Bakhshali, Suleiman Kamil and Fazal Momand, volunteered their services to serve as members of the Pashto Script Standardisation Board.

Prof Amin Yousafzai while chairing the event titled ‘Da Pakhto Jirga’ said that the basic objective of the gathering was to develop a consensus on a standardised Pashto script and educate Pashto publishers, editors, academics and writers for promoting unbiased and creative ideas towards a progressive Pakhtun society.

He said that linguists and scholars could play a significant role in evolving a peace narrative through a standardised Pashto script.

Senior poet Shams Buneri said he had been to Kabul recently where he held meetings with officials, writers and academicians. He said Afghan literati had assured them of their support on evolving a common script because all Pakhtuns shared same values, traditions, history and culture.

Prof Sohail Khan from Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, pointed out that scholars in Bara Gali had evolved a standardised Pashto script, but they had not taken into confidence the text boards, educational boards, etc and therefore in the absence of a language authority that script could not be implemented in true letter and spirit.

Prof Nasrullah Jan Wazir, director of Pashto Academy at the University of Peshawar, said that he had sent proposal to the KP government for setting up a language laboratory two months ago and was hopeful to get a positive response. He said a PLA without language lab would not be feasible.

Noted poet and general secretary of Khwendy Adabi Lakhkar, Zeba Afridi, Prof Mohib Wazir, Muazzam Jan, Ayazullah Tarakzai and Iqbal Momand also shared their views at the event.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019