Urdu is the 4th biggest language in the world and our national dignity is related to it. It unites us and it should be enforced as national and official language of Pakistan otherwise the literacy rate of country would not increase, said renowned scholars in a seminar organised by Idara Tameer Adab in Idara Noor-e-Haq on Wednesday night.
The seminar on “Urdu, national and constitutional status” was presided by Muzaffar Ahamd Hashmi while Professor Shadab Ahmad Ahsani, Professor Haroon Rasheed, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, Shah Nawaz Farooqui, Dr Fatima Hassan, Dr Syed Mubin Akhter, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter president Hafiz Naeem and others were present.
Muzaffar Hashmi said the JI fully supported the cause of Urdu language under the leadership of Sirajul Haq. The party has celebrated the “Urdu Day” across the country on his call. He said three provinces had already passed bills to declare Urdu as national language but bureaucracy was still a main hurdle in this dream coming true.
Prof Shadab Ahsani said: “Urdu has its own structure and it would survive and grow. Languages do not follow the dictionary but speakers. It needs to celebrate Urdu Day with the zeal with which the defense day is celebrated.”
Prof Haroon Rasheed said patriotic people had been raising voice for Urdu for the last 50 years but in vain. He said now was the time to give Urdu its real status in Pakistan. Dr Fatima Hassan said language was reflection of culture and Urdu was their cultural reflection. She said their national dignity was related to Urdu.
Dr Moiniddin Aqeel urged that they had to realise their behaviour about Urdu. He said the Supreme Court had ordered to give Urdu a status of the national language and the prime minister and other ministers should speak Urdu in their foreign visits. He regretted that their rulers seemed not ready to obey the courts orders. Senior columnist Shah Nawaz Farooqui, Dr Mubin Akhter and Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman also spoke and highlighted the importance of Urdu as the national and official language of Pakistan.