US consulate launches website in Sindhi language

Consul general hopes to reach millions of people through the website

KARACHI: US Consulate in Karachi launched its Sindhi language website at the US Consul General's residence on Tuesday evening.

The website will increase the outreach as not everyone in Pakistan is fluent in Urdu, said the US consul general Brian Heath. "Over the years we have increased the number of languages. We have been releasing press releases in Sindhi for some time as well as in Balochi and Pashto, depending on the subject," he added.

There are 60 million Sindhi speakers locally and globally, the consul general said. "Potentially we will reach millions of Sindhi speakers," said Heath, adding that it is something to celebrate and not to be ashamed of.

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Heath referred to a saying while comparing diversity to a recipe of soup, that more the ingredients, the tastier the soup would be. "If anyone can appreciate the spices of soup, it is the Pakistani audience," he said.

Speaking to the audience, the Sindh Education secretary Fazlullah Pechuho said that the Sindhi website was not only much needed, it was also a good addition. "There are around 40 million people living in Sindh and most of them already use Facebook and Twitter in Sindhi," Pechuho said. "Even the Sindh government doesn't have a Sindhi website of its own. They should follow the US consulate," he said.

He also appreciated the efforts of the US consulate for their investment of Rs8 billion in revamping the primary and secondary educational infrastructure in Sindh. He said that these schools will work under the private school management.

"If you talk in the language of the people, it goes right into their heart," said Suleman Shaikh, a Sindhi writer and social activist, while sharing his views on the importance of using the mother tongue of the people. "From 1856 to 1947, Sindhi was the official language of Sindh and from courts to Karachi municipality, Sindhi remained an active language," he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2015.