The
seminar was held under the auspices of Pashto department of the university
which was attended by various writers, intellectuals, artists, activists,
students and teaching faculty of Pashto departments of the province. International Mother Language Day is observed
every on February 21. The UNESCO in its General Conference in 1999 approved the
initiative of Bangladesh to celebrate International Mother Language day.
Since
2000, countries across the globe observe the day to spread awareness about the
fact that mother language plays a vital role in attaining development, cultural
diversity, and most important quality education. The theme for international
Mother Language day 2022, set by UNESCO, was “Using technology for multilingual
learning: Challenges and opportunities”.
The
seminar was presided over by Prof Dr Saeed-ul-Islam, Director Academics AWKUM. Dean
Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Tahir, Chairman Department of Pashto Dr Syed Zafar
Bakhshali, Prof Dr Nasrullah Jan Wazir Director Pashto Academy Peshawar University,
Dr Israr, Dr Mohib Wazir , Dr Nasrullah Majnoon, Dr Sohail Khan, Prof Dr
Muhammad Zubair Hasrat, Mushtaq-ur-Rehman Shafaq, Dr Idrees, Dr Tariq Mahmood,
Dr Samiuddin Arman, Prof Fazal Sattar Durrani, Zubair Ahmad Khattak, Dr Shukria
Qadir, Nigina BB, Karam Sattar Yaqubi, Heads of other departments attended the
seminar.
Speakers
of the seminar urged the provincial government to implement Pashto curriculum
from 1st to 12th grade in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) educational institutions.
Speaking
at the seminar, Dr Syed Zafarullah Baskhali, stressed the need for preservation
of Pashto language and culture associated with it. Dr Zafar said that academia,
government, writers, and poets of the province should focus on the preservation
and promotion of mother tongue of all communities, adding that communication
and education in mother tongue could lead our society towards progress and
prosperity.
In
the seminar jointly presented a resolution demanded of the provincial
government to establish Pashto language and literature departments in all
varsities of the province.
Besides
scores of poets and writers, political and social activists also attended the
seminar in large number.
Speakers
on the occasion demanded of the government to take pragmatic steps for
declaring Pashto as medium of instruction in educational institutions of the
province.