PESHAWAR, Dec 16: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad has urged the provincial government to declare Urdu as medium of instruction in the government-run educational institutions and offices.

Speaking at the prize-distribution ceremony of Muslim College of Commerce and Management on Monday, Qazi advised the MMA-led government to ensure that Urdu was treated as national language and asked the provincial public service commission to conduct competitive examinations in Urdu.

The previous provincial assembly had asked the government to declare mother tongues mediums of instruction in the public sector schools.

After the military takeover in 1999, the provincial government under a pilot project had introduced English as medium of instruction for the subjects of mathematics and science from class VI onwards in the schools of Kohat and Swat districts.

Besides, the government had converted 50 high and higher secondary schools into English medium aimed at enabling the students of public schools to compete with the students of private schools.

According to the 1973 Constitution, Qazi said, Urdu should have been made the national language and arrangements should have been made for it being used for official and other purposes.

He said the MMA-led government should fulfil this constitutional obligation.

Qazi said that English language had been made a symbol of prestige in society and the privilege class was promoting it to enslave the nation.

“The government should not ban English in schools and colleges, but Urdu should be declared as medium of instruction to promote self-respect among people.”

The JI chief demanded of the private sector to establish separate educational institutions for women in the province to discourage co-education.

Criticizing the policies of the World Bank, the IMF and other multi-national organizations, Qazi said these institutions were serving the interests of the imperialist forces.

“Their (FDIs’) agenda is to capture Pakistan’s resources and promote western culture and civilization in the country.

Provincial Senior Minister Sirajul Haq also attended the ceremony.