PESHAWAR: The Gandhara Hindko Board has shifted to digital printing to continue literary and cultural activities as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has not provided funding to the organisation for the last four years, an official said on Sunday.

“Despite the absence of government funding, we have continued our academic and research activities, particularly those aimed at promoting native languages,” said the organisation’s general secretary Mohammad Ziauddin, while speaking at a function held at the board’s office at Rampura Gate.

A press release issued here on Sunday quoted him as saying that the board had continued research and academic work after being deprived of government financial support beyond June 30, 2022.

“The board is currently engaged in various research projects and is working to develop and preserve the languages of the region, including Hindko and other local languages,” said Mr Ziauddin, a Hindko writer, poet and research scholar specialising in documentation.

He said the board was making efforts to strengthen its research infrastructure and establish a dedicated research centre where language enthusiasts could conduct research and access relevant material and resources.

Mr Ziauddin said the board was also collaborating with researchers and universities in different parts of the country.

“Researchers associated with various universities, including the University of Peshawar, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, and other institutions, are benefiting from the board’s research resources and activities,” he said.

Mr Ziauddin, who has research-based publications to his credit, said the board had published several books and research works on regional languages and cultures.

He said the board was making efforts to document and preserve the linguistic heritage of the region for future generations.

According to him, the board had initiated several research projects focusing on the history, literature, vocabulary and linguistic characteristics of regional languages. He said these projects were being carried out in collaboration with scholars and researchers.

He said the board had also been producing and publishing research material through its print and digital platforms.

“Researchers from different areas are contributing to these projects, while research journals and other academic publications are also being brought out,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026

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