NOSHKI: Literary figures, politicians, analysts and journalists have stressed the need for inclusion of ethnic recognition instead of language in the ongoing census.

They were of the opinion that language-based identification was unfair as it would decrease the actual population of several ethnic groups, including Baloch, in the national data. They highlighted the importance of local languages while addressing a seminar on “Census and National Languages” held at the district council hall in Noshki.

The speakers urged the government to include ethnic recognition in the column of languages in the census.

“Baloch speak several languages so their ethnic recognition will be divided if language is preferred instead of ethnic recognition, and that’s why the people of Balochistan have reservations over ongoing census,” former president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Shahzada Zulfiqar said.

Director of Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies Muhammad Amir Rana, National Party leader Dr Ishaque Baloch, Yar Jan Badini and Latiful Mulk Badini of Zind Academy, President of Balochistan Union of Journalists Irfan Saeed, Sabookh Syed, Saeed Baloch and Jameel Baloch also spoke.—Ali Raza Rind and

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2023