My land, my language: Development of Hindko curriculum demanded

Participants of conference highlight the importance of preserving native languages of the country.

PESHAWAR: Speakers at the ‘Hindko Literary and Cultural Conference’ held in Kohat on Sunday, asked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to expedite work on the development of the Hindko curriculum so as to implement an earlier decision to include the language at the primary school level.

According to a press release, the demand was made through a resolution passed at the conference, which was organised in collaboration with the Peshawar-based literary, cultural and social welfare organisation, Gandhara Hindko Board.

Senior Hindko writer and poet, Professor Iqbal Paracha, presided over the moot – a first of its kind in Kohat district. Member National Assembly (MNA) Sheharyar Afridi was the chief guest on the occasion and MPA Ziaullah Bangash was also present.

Sheharyar Afridi, said indigenous languages and cultures are among the noteworthy features of K-P.

Addressing the audience in Hindko, the legislator said efforts made for the preservation and promotion of language and culture should be acknowledged and supported.

The participants at the conference urged the government to expedite the work on the development of Hindko curriculum. It was said that Kohat should be included in the list of districts where children would be offered an option to choose Hindko at the primary school level.

Participants also demanded the government to increase the duration of programmes from Radio Pakistan at Kohat and launch a Hindko news bulletin from the station.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.