ISLAMABAD: Terming Persian language “the language of our forefathers”, speakers of a conference on “National conference for Persian language teachers in Pakistan” on Wednesday stressed the need for the promotion of the language for our success. The two-day conference was organized by cultural consulate of Iran in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC), National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and Center for Research Persian Language (CRP) in Pakistan. Senior faculty members and researchers from different local universities participated on the occasion and shared their views. While addressing the moot, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that Muslims had played a pivotal role in the field of education across the world from the 7th century to 13th century. He said at that time the West was under darkness while people from the West used to send their children to Andalus (Spain) so that they could gain education and knowledge. He said the basic reason behind our debacle was distance from education and religion. “Today we have been entangled in sectarianism and non-issues regardless teaching of Islam. We have distinguished scientists, engineers and doctors but lack the good humans”, Dr Ahmed lamented. He deplored that Muslim Ummah having 40 percent resources was facing problems. He stressed the need for chalking out new programmes consisting of Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey for development and progress of the Muslim Ummah. He noted that Persian and Arabian culture was our foundation, so the same should be enforced in colleges and universities. Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Hunarmand Dost said that time had come for the Muslim Ummah to forge unity among its ranks to defeat anti- Islamic forces. He assured the Persian teachers that no stone would be left unturned for the promotion of Persian language. Speaking on the occasion, Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Counselor Shahabuddin Durrani said that Persian language was key to get cultural and human values. He said Persian language had huge literature. Published in Daily Times, November 23rd 2017.