Thousands of people, including schoolchildren, took part in a mammoth rally taken out from the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday to demand promotion of their mother tongue Punjabi and its teaching in schools. Saraiki Nationalist Parties including Pakistan Saraiki Party, Saraikistan Democratic Party, Saraikistan Awami Ittehad, People's Saraiki Party, Multan Sooba Mahaz and Baloch council also observed the "Mother Language Day" in Multan and other cities of South Punjab. They urged upon the Government to implement on charter of UNESCO and allow the Saraiki at Primary level.
Hundreds of human rights activists and students took out a rally in connection with International Mother Language Day on Wednesday in Sahiwal
The rally started from Saddr Chowk and ended at Jinnah Chowk after passing through streets, Jogi Chowk, Pakapttan bazaar and Depalpur Bazaar. Meanwhile, more than 100 children from Freedom Primary School, 135/9-L and 119/9-L demanded education in the mother tongue.
These schools run under Insan Dost Association (IDA). IDA Director Anjum Matto told the media the students were children of kiln labourer. The cultural rally was part of cultural celebration organized by Punjab Lok Sujag, Awaz Society, Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Govt. Post Graduate College, Sahiwal, Comsats University and Sahiwal Arts councils.
The participants were carrying banners, flexes, placards elaborating the role of mother language in education, business and media. The rally was accompanied by a mini-truck where songs of Punjabi were being aired. The rally participants were having orange and white turbans along with orange scarf in their necks. Local police and district administration granted special security to rally participants and whole area was cordon off. The participants demanded implementation of mother tongue as medium of instruction in Punjab.
They said under 1973 Constitution, provinces have been granted right to promote its own mother tongue. Thus the Punjabis must ask their rulers to implement Punjabi as medium of instruction at primary schools of Punjab. The right of early education in mother tongue has also been awarded by UN under its human rights charter, they said.
Hundreds of human rights activists and students took out a rally in connection with International Mother Language Day on Wednesday in Sahiwal
The rally started from Saddr Chowk and ended at Jinnah Chowk after passing through streets, Jogi Chowk, Pakapttan bazaar and Depalpur Bazaar. Meanwhile, more than 100 children from Freedom Primary School, 135/9-L and 119/9-L demanded education in the mother tongue.
These schools run under Insan Dost Association (IDA). IDA Director Anjum Matto told the media the students were children of kiln labourer. The cultural rally was part of cultural celebration organized by Punjab Lok Sujag, Awaz Society, Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Govt. Post Graduate College, Sahiwal, Comsats University and Sahiwal Arts councils.
The participants were carrying banners, flexes, placards elaborating the role of mother language in education, business and media. The rally was accompanied by a mini-truck where songs of Punjabi were being aired. The rally participants were having orange and white turbans along with orange scarf in their necks. Local police and district administration granted special security to rally participants and whole area was cordon off. The participants demanded implementation of mother tongue as medium of instruction in Punjab.
They said under 1973 Constitution, provinces have been granted right to promote its own mother tongue. Thus the Punjabis must ask their rulers to implement Punjabi as medium of instruction at primary schools of Punjab. The right of early education in mother tongue has also been awarded by UN under its human rights charter, they said.
The rally was taken out to mark the International Mother Language Day observed throughout the world. It was organised by the Pakistan Punjabi Adabi Board in association with other cultural bodies.
The participants included cultural activists, intellectuals, workers, writers and schoolchildren, who appeared to be enjoying their presence in the rally taken out to demand education in their mother tongue. Many had come to Lahore for the rally from Kasur, Raiwind and other cities.
Carrying banners and placards and dancing to the drum beats, the participants dispersed peacefully after listening to the speeches of the organisers and community leaders at Charing Cross.
Wearing mustard coloured headbands, they sang Punjabi songs and remained at the crossing for nearly three hours.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Punjabi Adabi Board President Mushtaq Sufi, Ahmad Raza of Punjabi Parchar and labour leader Ahsan demanded introduction of local languages (Punjabi) in Punjab schools as compulsory subject right from the primary level.
They said Punjabi was mere an optional subject at intermediate and BA levels, indicating that the subject was being taught without its basic teaching in schools. Under the Unesco charter it was compulsory for every country to use local languages as medium of instruction. This should also be done in Punjab.
They said Punjab actually lagged behind other provinces in teaching local languages and making them medium of instruction. Sindh had introduced Sindhi as medium of instruction in 1973. Both Balochistan and KP were also teaching their three or four languages.
As the Constitution of Pakistan also provided for promotion of local languages, Punjab should forthwith make Punjabi as a medium of instruction and also make it a compulsory subject in schools, both public and private.
They said promoting Punjabi was the basic right of especially the poor farmers, workers and labourers as they were unable to learn other languages. They should be given this right, they said.
