Pakistan Mother Languages Festival calls for policy shift toward linguistic harmony

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2026) The Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival 2026 wrapped up at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Sunday with scholars and policymakers issuing a unified call for sweeping changes to the country's language policies.

The three-day event, now in its 11th year, brought together lawmakers, academics, writers, and civil society leaders to champion Pakistan's linguistic diversity and demand concrete institutional support for regional languages.

The festival's closing sessions emphasized a fundamental shift in approach: embracing linguistic harmony rather than imposing uniformity. Speakers argued that recognizing the country's diverse language landscape is essential for effective governance, quality education, and social cohesion.

"Celebrating linguistic diversity is a strong response to growing suffocation in the society," said Naseer Memon, Chairman of Indus Cultural Forum, the festival's organizer.

He emphasized that while government support is crucial, speakers of regional languages must also take ownership of preservation efforts.

A session on "Language Policy and politics of Pakistan" produced one of the festival's most significant demands: the establishment of a national language commission.

Experts called for the body to determine the official status of all Pakistani languages, with particular focus on centuries-old indigenous tongues.

Constitutional provisions and education frameworks were scrutinized, with speakers urging policymakers to reframe multilingualism as a national asset rather than an obstacle to unity.

Prominent voices at the festival included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Member Nisar Baaz Khan, former Federal Minister and writer Madad Ali Sindhi, and scholar Dr. Khadim Hussain, alongside vice chancellors from multiple public universities.

Linguistic scholars presented research spanning Pakistan's vast language spectrum, including studies on Sindhi sociolinguistics, Khowar oral traditions, Gawarbati documentation, Kohistani rhetoric, Pahari and Pothohari literature, Seraiki literary history and Brahui scholarship.

Researchers identified documentation, translation, and digital archiving as urgent priorities for preserving endangered languages.

Multiple sessions highlighted the practical benefits of mother-tongue-based education. Speakers demonstrated that public services, from legal literacy to agricultural extension, become significantly more effective when delivered in communities' native languages.

A panel titled "Innovative Efforts in Mother-Tongue Based Education" showcased community-driven and institutional models proving that multilingual curricula improve learning outcomes and strengthen cultural identity.

The festival devoted special attention to women's role in preserving folk literature and oral traditions. Panelists explored how mothers transmit cultural memory and folk wisdom to children from an early age, serving as Primary custodians of linguistic heritage across generations.

In an unexpected intersection of topics, a session on "Folk Literature and Climate Change" demonstrated how indigenous storytelling and music can promote environmental awareness, proving the ongoing relevance of traditional knowledge systems to contemporary challenges.

Representatives from the Sindhi Language Authority and Pakistan academy of Letters reaffirmed their institutions' commitment to supporting research, publication, and promotion of regional languages. Dr. Sher Mehrani and Dr. Bibi Ameena detailed ongoing initiatives at their respective organizations.

The Ahmed Saleem Study Circle paid homage to literary luminaries including Shaikh Ayaz, Fahmida Riaz, Mubarak Kazi, and Syed Zahoor Hashmi, celebrating their contributions to Pakistan's multilingual literary tradition.

The festival was organized by Indus Cultural Forum in collaboration with PNCA and supported by numerous institutions including the Sindh Culture Department, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, UNESCO, Balochistan Culture Department, Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture, and several universities and development organizations.

The event concluded with a musical evening celebrating Pakistan's linguistic traditions—a fitting end to a festival that positioned language diversity not as a challenge to overcome, but as a strength to nurture.