Persian key to our culture, history: Baligh

Education minister hints at increasing scholarly exchange with Iran

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman on Thursday said that language is a medium which reflects culture and civilization of a nation.

He was addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day National Conference on the Persian Language — Challenges and Future Prospects held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) auditorium.

The two-day conference was jointly organised by the Iranian Embassy, the HEC and the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

The minister noted that the Persian language has a deep connection with this region, especially Pakistan since most of the intellectuals have worked in the Persian language.

“Most poetry of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is in the Persian language,” Rehman said, adding that we will have to learn the language if we want to know about our history and civilization.

Rehman said that the conference will prove to be a milestone in promoting the Persian language.

He also emphasised on the need for promoting other regional languages for better national integrity and suggested that teaching English, Persian and Arabic languages should be given preference at the secondary level as optional subjects.

Rehman further said that Pakistan has strong relations with Iran and that the Pakistani people have great affection for the people of Iran, adding that the number of PhD scholars between both the countries will be increased.

Speaking on the occasion, Iran’s Ambassador Mehdi Hunardoost said that Tehran will enhance its cooperation with Islamabad in the social, cultural and religious sectors.

He said that both the neighbouring countries were enjoying sound relations in the region. He urged the Muslim Ummah to forge unity among its ranks to defeat anti-Islamic forces.

Earlier, the HEC Executive Director Dr Arshad in his address said that social sciences are providing strength in developing countries which are also vital for the character building of young generation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2017.