KARACHI:
Pakistan has over 77 tongues, yet it is currently grappling with linguistic erosion. According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, around 28 Pakistani languages are at risk of imminent extinction, including Dhatk, Aer, Bhaya, Badeshi, Kalami, among others. These are mostly concentrated in regions like Gilgit-Baltistan, K-P, Sindh and Balochistan.
To survive in a modern economy, younger generations are facing immense socio-economic pressure to switch entirely to dominant languages and forsake their mother tongue. This systemic shift is heavily accelerated by globalisation, widespread bilingualism and cultural mixing. Furthermore, heavy migration, regional tourism, inter-community marriages and the pursuit of higher education or employment abroad are severing the crucial link of intergenerational language transmission. When a language is no longer spoken at home, its extinction becomes inevitable.
Languages are the vessels of our unique histories, indigenous knowledge and cultural identities. To reverse this trend, a proactive, multi-sectoral approach is urgently needed. The government must involve expert linguists, fund native literature publications and incorporate these critically endangered languages into primary school curricula within their respective regions. Simultaneously, local communities must take pride in their heritage, actively transfer these mother tongues to their children, and leverage modern social media platforms to document and revitalise their voices before they are lost forever.
Alishba Hassan
Karachi
