Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Shahid Munir has said that efforts should be made for promoting Punjabi language without waiting for government patronage.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day international conference on ‘Punjabi as an academic and functional language’, he said it was important to change social behaviour to promote Punjabi language.
The conference has been organised by the Punjab University Institute of Punjabi and Cultural Studies in collaboration with the Punjab Institute of Languages, Art and Culture. Punjabi language experts from Canada, the United States, England and Turkiye were also present.
Dr Munir said Punjab is a region in which there are green fields but the people are suffering from poverty. The development of Punjab is linked with the adoption of modern industrial technology.
He said that instead of establishing new institutions, the efficiency of the existing ones should be increased.
“We should be proud of Punjabi language. Land can be divided but culture cannot be changed,” he added.
PU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmood said, “It is easy to understand any difficult matter in the mother language and we should not feel inferior over speaking Punjabi.”
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He said English is not spoken in any official meeting in China and Iran and the developed nations promote their languages to show that they are not victims of mental slavery.
Dr Jagmohan Singh said Punjabis are trusted and respected in Canada. Members of the community are members of parliament in Canada and hold important government positions.
He said the people of Punjab progress in any country by working hard and there are many Punjabi language organisations in Canada. Pakistani and Indian Punjabis jointly organise various activities.
PU Institute of Punjabi and Cultural Studies Director Dr Nabila Rehman said languages are intermingling with each other. Punjab has been a land of skills and talent for centuries.
She said it is unfortunate that even though the soil of Punjab is fertile, agricultural commodities worth billions of dollars are imported.
She said Punjab had remained a most literate region. Every city and town of Punjab has its own identity and livelihood.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2024.
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