Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairman Abdul Hameed said concrete efforts were being made to promote languages being spoken in the country.
Talking in a meeting with a delegation of writers from Gilgit-Baltistan who called on him Tuesday, he said it was prime responsibility of the PAL to promote languages being spoken in the areas of Gilgit, Baltistan and Chitral.
Hameed further said that PAL has published translation of writings from Broshiski, Shina, Balti and Khawar languages and now in future it is planning to setup a provincial office in Gilgit. He said that PAL published translation of selected writings of these languages.
However, he added, PAL is eager to build strong relations with writers from these areas so that they can be brought into the main stream. He said that this aim can only be obtained if one or more focal person is appointed to help PAL in keeping contact with writers of these areas.
The head of delegation Abdul Khaliq Taj said that translation of literature help writers and readers understand the people of different regions and culture. He assured PAL to make an ample supply of translations in to Urdu of selected writings from languages of these areas for publication in PAL’s regular magazine. Ghulam Abbas Naseem pointed out ill situation of the needed and deserving writers in Gilgit Baltistan and requested to PAL to come forward to help them financially.
The representative of literary organization Khawar Qalam Qabila, Abdullah Shahab informed that this literary organization is working for better literary work. WD Baig said that they are planning to organise an international languages conference for which they would like PAL to extend its support. Hameed assured that PAL would assist in every possible way.
