Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Cultural Journalists’ Forum and Culture Committee of Peshawar Press Club organized an event to commemorate the international day of maternal language here at press club on the Tuesday.

The participants highlighted the issues faced by indigenous languages and demanded the government to make primary education compulsory in maternal language of the students.

According to experts, there are some 30 language being spoken in the province most them are in Northern areas of the province, but the second largest spoken language, and major language Pashto language is also facing problems as majority of people cannot write or read their own language.

“These language need proper preservation,” said Layyeq Zada, while addressing the gathering.

“There are changes in the life style of the people. The English language which is the language of market and business attract more people than the local tongues. Even the Hindko speakers don’t speak Hindko in their homes,” says Layyeq Zada.

Farooq Jan Babar, a Saraiki writer who presided over the gathering said that no language is small; every language has its own importance. He said it is must that our primary education be imparted in one own language.

Ihtisham Toru, president of Cultural journalists’ forum said neither in the past nor at present, any attentions is being paid to the preservation of languages. He added that the maternal languages have great importance and the young students can learn better in their own languages instead of foreign languages.