THE decline of the Urdu language among Pakistan’s youth is widely regarded as a significant issue. Literature, in all its forms, is the principal medium for transmitting shared cultural and traditional values. As such, a younger generation alienated from its native language will inevitably become disconnected from its cultural heritage.

Urdu’s historical roots run deep. Emerging from various dialects across India, it evolved through decades of enrichment by migrants, traders and local people. Urdu’s uniqueness lies in its magical flow, its capacity for profound expression, and its rich literary tradition spanning over centuries. Those who grew up even in the era of Pakistan Television (PTV) would remember a time when the quality of language spoken on national television was of top quality, showcasing Urdu’s depth and beauty.

Today, the situation is drastically different. While 60 million people speak Urdu as their first language and 104 million as their second, the digital age has fractured our attention spans. Smartphones offer instant access to content, but this convenience has diminished our capacity for deep engagement with Urdu literature. We scroll through subpar poetry on social media rather than immersing ourselves in classical and modern texts of worth and value.

The diaspora experience compounds this crisis. Children of Pakistani immigrants often cannot read Urdu script and hesitate to speak the language with their grandparents because they are disconnected from their linguistic roots.

If we fail to preserve the language now, our future generations will inherit a hollow cultural identity. They will not be able to access the wisdom of our intellectuals, the sheer beauty of Urdu literature, and the essence of what makes us Pakistani.

Syeda Mahiba Jaffari
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025