Languages of Pakistan

What will we learn?

• The significance of Urdu
• The provincial languages
• Why was Urdu chosen as our
national language?
• Why is Urdu so important to
the development of Pakistan?
• Why are other languages so
important to the people of
Pakistan?
 What is language?

•The method of human

communication
•A structured system
•Many forms and types
•Universal
•A vital part of human connection
•Allows us to share our ideas,
thoughts, and feelings with others
•It has the power to build societies,
but also tear them down
Types of communication
Languages spoken in Pakistan
Urdu is generally accepted as the state
language today, but as the images show
by far the most widely spoken of the 72
first languages in Pakistan is Punjabi.
 Urdu and all about it
• Urdu is the official language of Pakistan
• It is an important symbol of Muslim unity
• It displays our identity, culture and traditions
• It represents Pakistan

How did Urdu become an important language?

• Emerged over 1000 years ago
• The most used language in Muslim dominated north west provinces by the end
of the Mughal rule
• It is a combination of many languages including Persian Arabic, Turkish and Hindi
• Came to form when people/soldiers from these backgrounds interacted
• Even though they mostly spoke in Urdu the other educated Muslims and Hindus
still used Persian
• Years later Urdu was used as a literary and formal language
• Became the official language of Mughal empire and used for official
documentation
 Hindi Urdu controversy
• A difference of opinion between Muslims and Hindus regarding
the official language to be Urdu or Hindi
• This led to the Two Nation Theory by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
• The language of the Pakistan Movement- spoken in east and west
in Pakistan Movement
• He tried to improve relations and defend Urdu by making a
Society
• Urdu was more dominant with the Mughal Empire and Muslim
rule
• Hindus found it as extended years of too much power and
privilege and after the Mughals and the War of Independence the
Hindus wanted Hindi to be the official language
• Hindus felt Urdu was written in Persian script that resembled
Arabic which was language of Quran. This was unacceptable
• Hindus started Hindi language campaign in 1867
• Muslims felt a direct attack on their traditions and culture
• In 1900 United Provinces Government declared both languages of
equal importance and including English everybody had to be
fluent for government jobs
 Why was Urdu made the official language of Pakistan?
•It was the main language to many leading Muslims
•A part of Muslim culture and identity, represents Muslim unity
•Historical significance- immense importance for last 300 years
•Rich in literature and poetry (Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan)
•In 1930 Muslim League discussed Urdu to be the national language
•Bengal opposed as they wanted Bengali
•In 1937 it was finalised to make Urdu the official language for future
Pakistan. Quaid e Azam finalised it in 1947
•Protests by unhappy Muslim Bengalis- Partition of Bengal 1971
•People were still using their own traditional language
•English was still being used for official business
•English till date continues to be used
•Urdu as well as local provincial languages taught in some schools
•Higher/upper classes gain English medium education
•Job opportunities also require fluency of languages depending on the
type of job/industry
• The language of the heavily populated province of Punjab. Most
popular. Widely spoken
• The name Punjabi was first used around 1080 by Hafiz
Barkhurdar
• In the beginning Punjabi was written in Gurumukhi script
• It is influenced by Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish and English
• Early literature consists of folk tales such as Heer Ranjha, Sohni
Mahiwal, Sassi Punnu
• Mystic Literature has also been very popular from the 12th
century
• Great works have been written by famous sufi poets like Baba
Farid Ganjshakar, Bulle Shah and Sultan Bahu
• Punjabi language has seen a lot of progress in the 20th century;
from novels and short stories to dramas and academic subject
books as well as modern poetry, ghazals and most important,
Quranic translations
• The authors writers like Ahmed Rahi, Munir Naizi, Ustaad
Daman have played key role in the development of this
language. Alam Lohar, Arif Lohar etc are famous singers
• Punjabi is taught up to masters level at colleges and universities
• Pashto Language is spoken in KPK (Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa) and the Northern areas of Balochistan
• it is influenced by Arabic, Persian and Greek
• It stems from languages used in Eastern Iran
• It has been an important language of Pakistan and
Afghanistan
• Written in the same Persian script that is used in Urdu
• Mostly spoken in homes, not in schools
• Rapid growth and progress in journalism
• In 1954 Pushto Academy was setup
• Sarhad University was also founded
• Islamia College Peshawar’s efforts are worth
remembering in the development of Pushto language
• Pushto is being taught up to masters level in the
province
• Radio, T.V, newspapers, magazines, poets, writers and
singers are playing their part in the development.
Rahim shah is the present day famous singer
• The mystic poetic collection of Khushal Khan Khattak
and Rehman Baba have been translated into different
languages
• Spoken in Balochistan province
• It is not very popular nor widely spoken
• It is inspired from Persian, Brohi, Makrani and Sulemanki
• It was brought about by the tribes from North-western
Iran who were Nomads
• Due to this, less progress on the language, poetry and
prose
• Mostly verbal communication with stories and poetry
passed down by word of mouth to generations-very little
literature
• The government has made many efforts to preserve and
develop it
• Balochistan University and Balochi Literary Association
were founded
• Literature and magazines were published. The famous
are Nan Kissan and Olissis. Balochi poets and writers
have also done meritorious jobs
• Jam Durrak remembered as famous writer of love
ballads
• Radio Pakistan (Quetta) and Pakistan T.V had
broadcasted their regular programs in Balochi language.
Academic literature and other books have been written
in Balochi language
• Sindhi is one of the oldest languages in the world dating back as far as the 2nd
century
• Written in Perso-Arabic script-major influence by Arabia as well as Persian
• Very popular with writers and poets from the 14th to 18th centuries
• Before 1947 most educated people in Sindh were Hindus and their exodus to
India undermined the use of Sindhi
• After 1947 most of the people who moved to Sindh were urdu speaking which
threatened the Sindhi speaking people
• A lot of riots in 1972 took place
• It was decided by the Government to preserve the language by imposing its
importance
• In 1948 Sindhi literary board was setup
• In 1954 Bazam-e-Talib ul-Maula (Hala), Sachal Sarmast Academy(Khairpur) were
founded along with different universities in Khairpur and Sukkur
• Sindhiology Department was also setup in Sindh University, Jamshoro after 1954
• Radio, T.V, newspapers, magazines, poets, writers and singers have played a key
role. Mai Bhagi, Allan Faqir, Abida Parveen, Shazia Khushk etc are the famous
singers
• Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai is one of the famous Sufi poets. Shah Jo Risalo is one of
his great works
• Academic and other books have been translated into Sindhi, Quran translations.
Sindhi is taught up to Masters level. Radio, T.V, have also broadcasted their
programs in Sindhi language. Newspapers and magazines are also published
Sample Questions
 K S
AR
4M
 K S
AR
4M
 K S
AR
3M
MA 7
RK
S