Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Marks International Mother Language Day, Demands National Status for Pashto

**Quetta:** Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) organized a central ceremony at the Quetta Press Club on February 21 to mark International Mother Language Day, calling for Pashto to be granted the status of a national and official language.

The event was presided over by the party’s Central General Secretary, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal. Among those who addressed the gathering were President of the Pashto Academy Hafiz Rahmatullah Niazi, noted writer Darwaish Durrani, Khalil Bawar, Professor Naseebullah Simab, Nazar Khan Panizai, Shaukat Tareen, Central Secretary Dr. Hamid Khan Achakzai, and Provincial President Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan. Provincial General Secretary Kabir Afghan performed the duties of stage secretary.

The ceremony was attended by central and provincial party leaders, members of the central committee, Pashto language scholars, teachers from Pashto departments, representatives of the Pashto Academy, Pakhtunkhwa Lawyers Forum, and Pakhtunkhwa Doctors Forum.

Speakers paid tribute to the martyrs of Bangladesh whose sacrifices led to the recognition of February 21 as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO. They said the purpose of observing the day is to highlight the importance and usefulness of mother languages, including Pashto, and to ensure their preservation and promotion.

Addressing the gathering, the speakers emphasized that a mother tongue represents the natural unity and national identity of a people, and serving one’s language is a national duty. They stated that the party has consistently raised its voice on every forum to grant mother languages official, judicial, educational, and administrative status.

Tribute was also paid to Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai for his lifelong struggle for the promotion of Pashto and for laying the foundation of the Pashto Academy.

Party leaders reiterated that PkMAP respects the religion, language, and culture of every nation and believes that all nationalities in the country should be granted equal rights. They noted that the principles and rights promised in the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, have yet to be fully implemented.

Speakers also expressed regret over the non-implementation of a law passed by the assembly under which Pashto, Balochi, Brahui, Saraiki, Sindhi, Persian, and Punjabi languages were to be included in the curriculum up to the primary level. They demanded immediate enforcement of the legislation.

They concluded that education in the mother tongue enhances students’ comprehension, creativity, and critical thinking, while deprivation of language and culture fosters a sense of alienation among nations. The speakers urged the government to constitutionally and practically recognize all national languages of the country and take concrete steps for their promotion.