HYDERABAD, Nov 13: Lead-ing Sindhi scholars, writers and educationists have said that the Sindhi language has been the official language of Sindh for centuries and it should be given the status of a national language along with other languages of Pakistan, such as Punjabi, Balochi, Seraiki and Pushto.

They were speaking at a “Language Conference” organized by the Sindhi Adabi Sangat here on Saturday evening.

The conference demanded that the Sindhi language be introduced as official language in all government departments and organizations.

In a resolution adopted at the conference, it was demanded that the 1972 Language Act be enforced in letter and spirit and Salees Sindhi be taught to Urdu-speaking students in class-XI.

Other demands included reopening of closed Sindhi-medium schools and setting up of new ones in Karachi and scholars of natural and that social sciences of the Sindh University be allowed to write their thesis in Sindhi language.

In his presidential address, noted scholar and educationist Dr G.A. Allana said that amending the 1972 Language Act was exclusive prerogative of the Sindh Assembly.

He said that the Sindhi Language Authority, Sindh Textbook Board, Sindhi Adabi Board and the Institute of Sindhology were responsible for promotion of Sindhi language and they must perform their due role in this regard.

He demanded that the Language Act of 1972 be implemented in letter and spirit and that if the Sindh education minister was helpless, then she should resign from her post.

Noted short story writer Hameed Sindhi said the very existence and survival of Sindhi people was linked with the Sindhi language and demanded that all conspiracies against the Sindhi language be stopped.

The general secretary of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Mr Taj Joyo, said if the Sindh government could not implement the decision of the Sindh Assembly in respect of language act, then it should better resign.

He said the Sangat would continue its struggle for implementation of the 1972 Language Act and it would not accept any pressure from the authorities.

Dr Shams Ursani, Wali Ram Walabh, Prof Liaquat Aziz, Dr Qasim Bughio, Prof Amar Sindhu, Zeb Nizamani, Nisar Hussaini and Inayat Baloch also spoke on the occasion.

A message of renowned scholar, Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, was also read at the conference.