Government needs to invest in the promotion of the Urdu language: Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi

COSIS Principal Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi has said that the language is the best source of expression of views. He said that the national language of any country is not only its identity but also a guarantor of its unity and cohesion. He said that self-respecting and honorable nations always keep their culture, arts, and languages close to their hearts and take pride in them. He said that all the nations that achieved progress gave importance and preference to their national languages and cultures.

Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi said that the judicial decision of enforcing Urdu as the official language should be implemented in letter and spirit and official correspondence should also be carried out in the national language. He said that English does have its importance as an international language but Urdu also deserves to be given utmost importance by the government.

Principal COSIS made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held to mark the International Day of Urdu. Prof Muhammad Nawaz Zafar, Dr Muhammad Akram Rana, Dr Shabbir Ahmad Shami, Prof Mohibullah, Prof Muhammad Ilyas, Sabir Naqshbandi, faculty members and students attended the ceremony.

Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi said that Urdu is the third largest language after Chinese and English according to the statistics of UNESCO. He said that it is a matter of great pride for us that Urdu is the language of Muslims, adding that the arrival of traders and scholars from the Arab world, Iran, and Turkey, etc. became the basis of the start of the Urdu language. He said that the Quaid-i-Azam, Pakistan's founding father, had stated categorically in 1948 that Urdu and Urdu alone would be the official, national language of Pakistan.

Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Barvi further said that the progress of any nation largely depends on its national language. He said that being a national language, Urdu possesses a cultural treasure. He said that personalities such as Shibli, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Hali, Sayyid Sulaiman Nadvi, Deputy Nazir Ahmad, Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Maulvi Abdul Haq, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri have rendered great services for the promotion of the Urdu language.