Conference: Regional languages authority demanded

GILGIT:

Linguists in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) have joined the chorus and demanded the government to enact laws for the preservation of regional languages on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day being celebrated across the globe today.

The government must set up a language authority in Gilgit for the preservation of regional languages, office bearers of Shina Language and Cultural Promotion Society, demanded in a seminar held in Gilgit on Tuesday.

Shakil Ahmed, the society’s president asked legislators of the regional assembly to enact laws for the promotion of languages spoken in the region.

According to a report by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), endangered languages in Pakistan are Khowar spoken in Chitral and Gilgit with an estimated number of 220,000 speakers, Burushaski spoken in Nagar Hunza which has 87,000 speakers, Maiya in Indus Kohistan with 220,000 speakers and Purik in Kashmir.

Half of the languages spoken in Pakistan are native to K-P and northern areas, a significant majority of which have been listed as endangered.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2012.