Daily Times

KARACHI: Aimed at enhancing people-to-people contact with the neighbouring country, the plan to introduce Chinese language at state-run schools and colleges is yet to be launched despite passage of more than three years, Daily Times has learnt.

According to insiders, the programme was supposed to be launched in March 1, 2012, however, it could not be materialised despite the fact that more than three years have passed. However, the authorities concerned did not bother to chalk out a comprehensive plan to start the language.

The chief minister had approved the funds worth Rs 597.88 million for the said programme in February 2010, and the Sindh’s Education and Literacy Department had also got a formal approval from the competent authority. However, the slackness of the administration had made the efforts of the Planning and Development wing of Education and Literacy Department down the drain, as it was yet to be initiated. As per plan, introduction of the Chinese language programme should have been launched in March 2012, with the execution jurisdiction within the Directorate of Chinese Language Programme. Interestingly, the directorate has yet to be established after the approval of the summary.

Since Pakistan came into being, it has good relations with China. The relations between both the countries have strengthened with the passage of time. The main objective of this project is to introduce Chinese language courses to all students of each level throughout Sindh in order to provide basic knowledge of the language for entering to extensive business, economic and cultural relations with the new economic giant of today’s world, PC-1 mentioned, according to plan.

China is the oldest and most populous nation in the world, with 1.28 billion people. One fifth of the planet speaks Chinese language. Mandarin language is the mother tongue of over 873 million people of China, making it the most widely spoken first language in the world, PC-1 further stated. In addition to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Mandarin is also spoken in the important and influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia. China is the second largest economy in the world. China will play a major role in world affairs in the future, it added.

In this regard, Adviser to Chief Minister for Information Maula Bux Chandio was contacted, however, his cell phone remained unattended.