HYDERABAD, April 28 The National Conference on Sindhi Language and Indus Script and Civilization held at Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch hall of Sindhi Language Authority here on Tuesday recommended to the government to declare major languages of Pakistan, including Sindhi, as national languages and take steps for promotion of the languages.

The conference was spread over two sessions with noted writer and educationist Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo presiding over the first session and renowned scholar and researcher Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch presided over the second session.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Joyo said that the Sindhi script was in vogue for centuries, therefore, it does not need any changes. He rejected the objections of some people on the 52 alphabets of Sindhi language.

He stressed the need for giving preference to mother tongue in primary education and said that teaching of Sindhi language in private schools should be made compulsory.

Sirajul Haq Memon made it clear that Sindhi language had nothing to do with Sanskrit and added that it was a centuries-old language.

SLA chairperson Dr Fahmida Hussain said that it was planned as an international conference but due to political reasons and security problems, guests from abroad were unable to attend the conference.

She also explained the aims and objects of the conference.

In the second session, Dr Baloch said that the real name of Moenojadaro was Moen Jo Daro. He said that the relics of Moenjodaro were not only found in parts of Thar but also in Harappa. He stressed the need for more excavation of Moenjodaro to get further information about the culture.

It urged the government to send delegations of experts of Sindhi language to India and other countries to investigate into the language of Moenjodaro. It said that Sindhi language should be made a compulsory subject in all the private schools and Sindhi Language Authority should be further empowered and the recommendation of the authority should be made mandatory for registration of private schools.

It said that steps should be taken to ensure the use of Sindhi language in offices and right from Sindh Assembly to the district government and union council level, it should be used in all correspondence well.

It recommended that right from class-I, Sindhi language should be made medium of instructions and the poetic translation of Shah Jo Risalo be made in Punjabi, Balochi, Seraiki, Brahavi, Pushto and other languages. Similarly, it said, poetic translations into Sindhi of the renowned poets of the above languages should also be arranged.

It said that concerted efforts should be made to rehabilitate and protect the archaeological assets of Sindh and archaeology department should be transferred to the Sindh government to manage the affairs of Moenjodaro. It urged the government to award scholarships to young linguist research scholars.

It demanded that a separate FM radio service should be introduced for the promotion of Sindhi language and a separate Sindhi university should be established on the pattern of Urdu university.

It said that the mobile phone, pharmaceutical and beverage companies should be directed to issue advertisements and fix labels on their products in Sindhi language while the district government should be issued similar instructions with regards to the writing of the names of the cities and towns as well as milestones in Sindhi language.

The others, who spoke on the occasion, included MPA Humera Alwani, Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari, Mastoor Bukhari, a scholar from Lahore, Iqbal Qaisar, Dr Ghulam Ali Alana, Dr Suleman Shaikh, Dr Ehsan Wagha from Islamabad, Dr Javed Chandio from Punjab and Dr Haider Sindhi.

At the end of the first session, the scholars were also awarded shields.