LAHORE For the first time a Punjabi-Urdu dictionary has been launched.

Authored by the late Sardar Muhammad Khan, a researcher and linguist from Rawalpindi, the dictionary has been published and marketed by Sachal Studios and the Punjabi Adabi Board.

Speaking at the launch at the Alhamra Art Centre on Monday, Mushtaq Sufi from Sachal Studio said the question of completing a Punjabi-Urdu dictionary by Sardar Muhammad Khan was first raised in a meeting of the Punjabi Adabi Board in 2005. There were no funds and a big effort was needed to complete the task. The Sachal Studios, headed by Izat Baig, decided to take the responsibility of compiling the dictionary, he said.

Mushtaq Sufi said though classical literature was not taught in schools, commercially it had an ample demand in the market. He said the Sachal Studio would also publish a dictionary of classical writings in future.