ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Syed Abu Ahmad Akif on Friday said that Urdu language is ‘not accepted’ as the ‘language of success, so translating a book on environment in Urdu is a great endeavor for the promotion of the national language and ensuring outreach to the general public.
He said this while speaking at the launching ceremony of the Urdu version of the book titled “Pakistan Environmental Challenges and Measures for Pollution”, written by Dr Mahmood A Khawaja, organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), on Friday. English language is one of the gifts of colonialism, which has subdued the local language Urdu, he said. This book is an important source of knowledge, which requires more dissemination, as it is important to have a book in Urdu language, on scientific subjects, for a better outreach to the general public, he added.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Q Suleri said, “We cannot think of sustainable development, if a common man is not taken on board.” The 6th report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) blames human activities for the current change in the environment, he said. This book would be an important reference for those Urdu readers, who have interest in environmental issue, he added. While explaining the objective behind the publishing of the book, Author Dr Mehmood Khawaja said that firstly it will make general public aware of some of the main environmental problems confronting the society and the needful measures to be taken by the government, private sector, civil society and public in general. Secondly, it has been translated in Urdu, so that it is easier for the general public to understand the issues of environment pollution, protection and remedies, he added.
Ahmed Salim, Senior Adviser for Education and Religious Diversity said the book establishes a link between environment and human life and presents ways and means of coping with the harmful impacts of changing environment.
The message and knowledge of this research publication should reach out to the common people, through the local language, he said. Most of the research expires on shelves, after being published in language, understood little by the local people, he added. Fatima Jinnah Women University Chairperson Dr Shazia Iftikhar commended Dr Khawaja for publishing research in Urdu. It would help in gathering support of the people on the issues, he said. Climate Change Ministry Deputy Director (Chemicals), Zaigham Abbas, said the book is very relevant to the needs of the public. Dr Khawaja, author of the book, has presented his pioneer work on the harmful impacts of mercy and other chemicals in the book, which is commendable, while the content of this book would be of great benefit to the public at large, he added. Dr Humera Ashfaq, Urdu Editor and Research Fellow at SDPI, said the purpose of the book is to create public awareness on the issues of environmental pollution and degradation.
Khalid Iqbal Yasser, Head of Translation Services Department, National University of Modern Languages (NUML) said, “We should not confine writing of research to English only. Urdu language should be used for a better outreach to the general public, whereas the research published in foreign language achieves little of its objectives.”