QUETTA: Treasury and opposition members of the Balochistan Assembly have dema­nded introduction of school education in mother tongues to mark the Inter­nat­ional Mother Tongue Day, also suggesting that translators of all spoken languages in the province should be appointed in the Assembly so that the lawmakers could deliver their speeches in their respective mother languages.

“Digitalisation is redefining the world and governments can use it to help preserve and promote mother languages,” said Sana Baloch of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal while speaking in Balochi during the assembly session primarily discussing mother languages late on Friday.

“Unfortunately, despite legislation in the Baloch­istan Assembly for development and promotion of mother tongues, nothing has been done for protection of Balochi, Pashto, Brahvi, Hazaragi and other languages,” he added.

Later, he quoted poetic verses in Balochi, Pashto and Brahvi languages.

Balochistan Assembly Spe­a­ker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on the occasion dire­cted the secretary of the Assembly to arrange translators who could translate spee­ches if any member spoke in his or her mother tongue.

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Excise and Taxation Malik Naeem Khan Bazai of the Awami National Party spoke in Pashto, saying, “It is our responsibility to protect our traditions, customs and languages.” The government should implement the law passed by the Assembly in this regard, he added.

Nasarullah Zerey of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said that in 2014 the Balochistan Assembly passed the “Balochistan Introduction of Mother Languages as Compulsory Additional Subject at Primary Level Act, 2014”. He said that following the passage of this Act primary education began to be offered to the province’s children in their mother tongues.

“The government should now offer education up to matric-level in mother languages by making an amendment in the Act,” he suggested.

Fazal Agha of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl also underlined the need for taking steps for promotion of local languages.

Qadir Nayal of the Hazara Democratic Party spoke in Hazaragi language and said that the government should take steps for encouraging education in mother tongues.

Feb 21 is celebrated as International Mother Language Day worldwide, as declared by the United Nations in 2000.

The House also adopted four resolutions relating to ending unemployment, price hike, functionalising Zarghoon Housing Society Scheme, constructing natio­nal highways from Quetta to Mastung and Quetta airport to Kuchlak and making Pishin double carriage.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020