PM Imran wants engagements conducted in Urdu

E-Paper | March 06, 2026

ISLAMABAD: To give due honour to the national language and give a national touch to his official engagements, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed that all functions, meetings and other programmes to be arranged for him be held in the Urdu language.

A notification issued by the Prime Minister Office (PMO) on June 3 with the signature of Principal Secretary to the PM Azam Khan says: “The prime minister has been pleased to desire that henceforth all the programmes events/ceremonies, arranged for the prime minister, shall be conducted in the national (Urdu) language.

“Further necessary action to implement the above directions of the prime minister shall be taken by all concerned accordingly.”

A source in the PMO told Dawn that the prime minister was committed to promoting and giving due respect to the national language; therefore he wanted all his programmes and events to be conducted in the national language.

In September 2015, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the federal and provincial governments to adopt Urdu as official language in the country.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021

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Talha

Jun 06, 2021 09:36am

Just end quota system and promote merit; give equal opportunity in employment especially in Sindh

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Sheheryar

Jun 06, 2021 09:53am

To honour the national language Urdu, instructions were issued in English.

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Kashif Hussain

Jun 06, 2021 09:54am

A long time awaiting decision.... One Nation, One Country, One Language...

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kashif Ajaz

Jun 06, 2021 09:54am

Much needed step, we should be proud of our language.

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Humza

Jun 06, 2021 09:58am

No one wants to speak in Urdu in Pakistan because it sounds too much like Hindi. Why not just use English and stop fooling the people. By conducting business in Urdu / Hindi will it improve the poor performance of the PTI government vis a vis the economy? English is the language of the world. Wake up.

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Arif

Jun 06, 2021 10:01am

Love you IK for focusing on the least important things after failing on the important ones.

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Rahim

Jun 06, 2021 10:04am

What a decision by PMIK... helps grow Urdu language among masses and younger generations. PMIK should make teaching/instructions in Urdu compulsory in schools and universities. This should be first language of choice

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Shahid Fakhruddin

Jun 06, 2021 10:10am

This is a correct decision.Language is a means for communication and if our masses do not get the message communicated to them why to use that language.Having said that we should continue to teach English to be used as a second language.We are the only country where in a gathering/function/meeting where everyone understand Urdu but the event is conducted in English.

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Jabbar

Jun 06, 2021 10:22am

The great initiative of PMIK to honor national language Urdu began by sending circular in English.

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Omar

Jun 06, 2021 10:25am

While the rest of the world tries to learn English, for their second language as it is the international language of communication, industry, and academia, while in Pakistan we try to unlearn it. No wonder Pakistan keeps falling behind the rest of the world.

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Jamil Ahmed

Jun 06, 2021 10:29am

@Talha, That is a provincial issue. Next time elect a responsible government in Sindh

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F-16

Jun 06, 2021 10:32am

What a wisdom and vision he has for his country. He is undoing all the mistakes of the past, kudos! Cannot love this PM more.

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Justice

Jun 06, 2021 10:53am

IK is all about anything but substantive administration.

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Saleem

Jun 06, 2021 11:09am

Fully agree. One Unit. One Language.

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Abbas Naqvi

Jun 06, 2021 11:23am

National language can bring about national unity and pride for a nation as well as act as its identity.

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Hameed Shaheen Alvi

Jun 06, 2021 11:38am

PM Imran Khan's directive to have his public engagements rendered into Urdu language speaks of national sentiments; hearty congrats!

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ANS

Jun 06, 2021 11:43am

@Kashif Hussain, Not one nation but collection of nations making up a unique country

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Tariq Awan

Jun 06, 2021 11:51am

But he knows nothing of the Urdu language. Taking oath was a huge challenge for him.

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bruce lee

Jun 06, 2021 11:54am

Another day, another statement.

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Mansoor

Jun 06, 2021 12:10pm

@Rahim, Urdu is mother tongue of less than 3%

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John

Jun 06, 2021 12:36pm

Great, but who will teach Urdu to the "ruling elite?"

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Maxx

Jun 06, 2021 01:39pm

@Kashif Hussain, Indeed, one country, one language....people from Karachi to GB...can converse in Urdu!

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Jun 06, 2021 01:43pm

@Sheheryar , very well spotted.

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Naved

Jun 06, 2021 01:57pm

It will strengthen PM connection with masses and will increase national language importance.

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Jaws

Jun 06, 2021 02:18pm

@Sheheryar , Yes scornful Einstein, it is because the government/official language is English!

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Jaws

Jun 06, 2021 02:20pm

@Tariq Awan, Do you always exaggerate or just hate Khan?

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Jaws

Jun 06, 2021 02:22pm

@ANS, Really? Then pretty much all countries are made up of many nations! Heard of the UK? Composed of Irish, Scottish, Welch, English and a mix of other "nations"!

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Jaws

Jun 06, 2021 02:24pm

@Mansoor , Did you pull that 3% figure out of your......?

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Jaws

Jun 06, 2021 02:25pm

@Jp, Dodo, official language of government is Urdu!

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Chrís Dăń

Jun 06, 2021 02:45pm

@John, and English too.

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Haroon Malik

Jun 06, 2021 03:26pm

I am not an Urdu speaker. Similarly more than 80 percent of Pakistan is not Urdu speaker. For me English and Urdu are the same languages. But English has given me so much more benefits than Urdu. So I will prefer to write in English but I will teach my kids to learn English instead of Urdu as the second language.

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Andher Nagri

Jun 06, 2021 03:43pm

Well that's the county's problems sorted, now why didn't some Genius think of that before??

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INSAF ALI

Jun 06, 2021 04:30pm

great idea,i have 18 years education but stll unable to understand English in full contaxt.

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Markhor

Jun 06, 2021 04:33pm

@Arif, This will be the least for you but not for us. Keep in mind that "Rome was not built in one day"

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 06, 2021 05:05pm

Independent, neutral, impartial, unbiased and non-indoctrinated historical data confirm that no country in the whole world has ever progressed, blossomed, thrived, flourished and prospered by ignoring, disregarding, neglecting, shunning, snubbing and skipping its national language and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is not an exception in this case.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jun 06, 2021 05:15pm

Good step to promote URDU at national level, but there is no harm communicating in English, as this is an international language and being used widely. We mustn't forget our heritage and local languages.

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Proud_Pakistani

Jun 06, 2021 06:26pm

@Talha, Get rid of corrupt PPP and vadairas simple stop blaming PTI

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Rahim

Jun 06, 2021 06:50pm

PMIK should also pass a law so that people who speak and write in Urdu only can participate in elections and be government officials. Other languages be strictly prohibited from official business and communications.

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Liaqat khan

Jun 06, 2021 07:06pm

Very good decision by our Most Respected PM Khan

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Gareeb Azam

Jun 06, 2021 07:08pm

Why only urdu? Punjabi, pashto, sindhi, and several others also needs respect. Complete partiality and failure of government.

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Jun 06, 2021 07:34pm

PMIK is great, this is a strategic decision. This will increase number of jobs. Higher education will be easy. Arabic will also help a lot as it’s made part of school education. All documents and forms and sign boards in government offices should be converted to Urdu only. PTI can take the contract, no problem. Some government officials will have to trained to speak in Urdu but that’s ok. Those who cannot speak in Urdu will need translator. PTI workers will be available, no problem. PTI is best.

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Mr Alz

Jun 06, 2021 07:55pm

@Gareeb Azam, well, who said he won't be doing that? I think we need focus on national language first before going regional languages.

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SidC

Jun 06, 2021 08:09pm

@Jaws, Mr Einstein Sr. First change yourself than told other to change. What a lame excuse I cannot change because that’s the way things are.

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AFriend

Jun 06, 2021 08:10pm

Why not honor Punjabi, spoken by the majority?

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Jun 06, 2021 08:10pm

@Omar, PMIK did not said do not learn English. Please do not take a statement out of context.

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Jun 06, 2021 08:13pm

@ANS, There is no nations within a nation.

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Faisal

Jun 06, 2021 08:28pm

Another great step towards solving economy, export, trade and industry problems.

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Jun 06, 2021 08:34pm

@Haroon Malik, As a Pakistani Urdu should be your preferred language. Children can learn English in their schools. I learned it because it was compulsory to converse in English in our school. In my daily life of sixty years now I never spoke English in my home, with my friends. in USA since last two decades, when I came here some of my colleagues at my job were surprised at my English but within the family and community my language is still Urdu. It is sad to see Urdu is loosing in USA too.

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Rizwan Hamid- USA

Jun 06, 2021 08:37pm

Why don't we start by getting rid of the Arabic script and use the original Urdu script ( Persian Script) I remember when this change happened in 1965 when Arabic script had been invented for the printing industry. eliminating the need to hand write the books and then using a Gastetner cyclograph. Iran has invented the Persian keyboard, so no reason to use the Arabic script and give up our heritage of Urdu written in the Persian script.

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Jun 06, 2021 08:45pm

@Haroon Malik, It is encouraging that here in US many has taken task to promote Urdu. I also encourage readers of this article to promote Urdu in USA. Speak Urdu with your children as we in our family do. Avoid English with your children. It is the environment that nurtures children's learning. We were given that environment in our school in Pakistan and most of my friends and colleagues learned the language. Pakistani children here in US have that and so they are in auto mode to learn English.

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John Cool

Jun 06, 2021 08:56pm

Make it in Arabic as citizenry is compulsorily learning and most Pakistanis want to be Arabic.

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John Cool

Jun 06, 2021 08:58pm

@Kashif Hussain, "A long time awaiting decision.... One Nation, One Country, One Language..." Thats how you lost East Pakistan now Bangladesh.

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gimli

Jun 06, 2021 09:55pm

@Jabbar, did you see the circular in english? stop yapping

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Khalid Abdullah

Jun 07, 2021 02:10am

english is the language of the world and will help everyone to communicate better

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M. Saeed

Jun 07, 2021 12:18pm

What will happen to the English medium studied officers who cannot even count up to 100 in Urdu?

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Truth Speaker

Jun 07, 2021 05:17pm

@Kashif Hussain, and no respect for diversity and acceptance?

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Noor

Jun 07, 2021 07:05pm

Imran khan who I thought, might bring Pakistan forward but now I think he wants to bring the country back to medieval time. Urdu is a fine language but English is the language of Science and Technology. English must be taught in all schools, if Pakistan is to progress into the future, but I fear the Bushes Islamic influence on IK is going to Pakistan another Iran except a poor Iran without oil.

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Yemeen Zuberi

Jun 07, 2021 08:24pm

Good decision, however, what the government is doing for local languages? All languages of Pakistan are ours, and need encouragement. Thanks

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