Daily Times

Sir: Pakistan’s literate youth are drawing away from their culture and ethnic traditions. They lack appreciation of their cultural values; in fact, they consider it not ‘cool’ and backward. Our youth in majority prefer using English as a medium of communication and disdain Urdu. It has become a symbol of status and modernity to speak English and look down upon people who only speak Urdu. I firmly believe that the reason for rising illiteracy can also be contributed to our complex about English. Even our heads of state feel shy speaking in their mother tongue. Lately, the prime minister of Turkey made his speech in Turkish when addressing the joint session of Parliament in Pakistan. On the other hand, our Speaker, prime minister and the leader of the opposition spoke in English. It is this very reason that Urdu is declining not only as a language but also in quality and sprit. Pakistan has stopped producing good brains owing to the crisis of language.

SUMERA ANDLIB

Karachi