KARACHI, February 24 2012: Sindhi scholars, writers and intellectuals demanded of the government to declare Sindhi a national language by introducing legislation.The demand was made by speakers at a seminar on ‘Sindhi language, national language: its importance and significance’ organised here by the Sindh Culture Department and Sindhi Language Authority to mark the International Mother Tongue Day. Speaker after speaker said that Sindhi language was not only the oldest but the richest language of the country and it must be given protection and the educational system of the province should be strengthened. Prominent scholar Mohammed Ibrahim Joyo blamed elements that had always tried in the past to harm Sindhi language but the people of Sindh had foiled such conspiracies and now were determined to have the language receive its due recognition. “After the creation of Pakistan, it was decided that both Sindhi and Urdu languages would be taught as a compulsory subject in Sindh. However, while Urdu language was taught in all the educational institutions, Sindhi was ignored”, he said. Dr Ghulam Ali Allana, an eminent educationist, SLA chairperson Dr Fehmida Hussain and Azad Qazi also spoke at the seminar.
