ISLAMABAD: A two-day international seminar on “Cultural and Lingual Commonalities between Iran and Pakistan” organised by National University of Modern Languages (NUML) concluded on Thursday. Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran HE Mehdie Honar Doost was the chief guest of the closing ceremony while NUML Director General DG Brig Riaz Ahmed Gondal, Iran’s Cultural Counsellor Shahabud Din Daraie, Institute of Persian Studies Islamabad Director Essa Karim, Persian Department Head Dr Mahr Noor Muhammad Khan, scholars from Pakistan and Iran, guests and large number of students were also present on the occasion. While giving the over view of the seminar, Dr Talib Hussain Sial said that there are many commonalities between Iran and Pakistan. He said that researcher in their papers proved that Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi and pushto language contains many words of Persian and all the Sufi literature is also in Persian language adding that both the languages are interrelated with each other. Dr Talib said that till 1985 Persian language was taught as a compulsory language in Pakistan and later it was eliminated for unknown reasons. He demanded the government revive the moral values of our youth as it is necessary to tell them about our rich culture and it cannot be achieved without reviving of the Persian language in Pakistan. He also requested the Iranian government to play its due role in promoting this language in Pakistan and offer scholarships for outstanding students. While speaking on the occasion, Iranian Ambassador HE Mehdie Honar Doost said that Iran was the first country who recognised Pakistan after its independence and Pakistan also was the first country who recognised Islamic Republic of Iran after revolution. He said that both nations are not only geographically closer but also have religious, cultural and lingual commonalities. He termed that such seminar must be continued to better understand each other. At the end NUML Director General Brig Riaz Ahmed Gondal thanked Iran embassy and Persian department to organise such an informative and successful seminar on a very interesting topic. He said that both the countries since their independence are very close to each other and such affection and love will be continued in future.