On International Mother Language Day, we reflect on the power of language in shaping identity, dignity and opportunity.
Pakistan is home to a rich tapestry of languages. Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, Seraiki, Brahvi, Hindko, Shina, Burushaski, Wakhi, Hazargi and many others reflect centuries of shared history and cultural exchange. Urdu serves as a Lingua Franca which connects our federation, yet our mother tongues remain the first voice of our children and the primary carrier of inherited knowledge and tradition.
Language is more than a medium of speech. It shapes how communities remember their past, organise social life and understand the world around them. It carries moral traditions, local wisdom and inherited experience.
When a language weakens, more than words are lost and a distinct way of seeing and interpreting reality begins to fade.
In a multi-ethnic and multilingual federation such as ours, the challenge is not diversity itself but how to nurture cohesion to create a colourful bouquet, a rich mosaic, while safeguarding this shared inheritance.
For millions of Pakistanis, language shapes daily life in practical ways. A child who begins school in a language spoken at home is more likely to promote cognitive development, understand lessons, learn counting, remain confident and continue education. When instruction is delivered only in a language unfamiliar to the family, learning gaps widen and dropout rates rise, particularly in the early years. Farmers, artisans and small business owners often rely on local languages to access services, markets and information. Recognising and supporting mother tongues therefore strengthens not only cultural identity but also literacy, mobility and economic participation.
Research and international experience show that mother tongue based multilingual education improves comprehension and supports the acquisition of additional languages. It also safeguards indigenous knowledge embedded in local expression. In Pakistan’s context, careful integration of regional languages into education and public life can deepen national cohesion by affirming that every community’s heritage is valued within the federation.
International Mother Language Day calls on all nations to protect linguistic diversity and promote multilingualism. Languages carry unique worldviews and ways of thinking. When a language declines, a part of humanity’s shared intellectual heritage is diminished. Protecting minority and regional languages is therefore not a symbolic gesture. It is an investment in inclusive and sustainable societies.
As we observe this day, let us renew our commitment to respecting and promoting all mother tongues of Pakistan. In the new technological arena, it is not too difficult to promote any language.
Our unity does not require uniformity. It rests on mutual recognition and equal dignity. By honouring the diversity of languages spoken across our land, we strengthen the foundations of our democracy and ensure that every citizen feels heard, understood and represented.
