National Language Implementation Day

BY,Ata-ul-Rehman Chauhan, President Tehreek Nafaz Urdu Pakistan

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the government to use Urdu as the official language, as mandated by Article 251 of the Constitution. However, this decision has yet to be implemented, with English remaining the dominant language in government and education.

The use of Urdu as the national language has been a long-standing issue in Pakistan. In 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared Urdu as the official language, and it was later enshrined in the Constitution. However, successive governments have failed to implement this provision, with English remaining the language of government, education, and business.

The Supreme Court’s 2015 decision was seen as a major victory for proponents of Urdu, but it has yet to be enforced. Instead, the government and judiciary have continued to use English, perpetuating a system that has been criticized for promoting lawlessness and arbitrariness.

Proponents of Urdu argue that the use of a foreign language has hindered Pakistan’s development and perpetuated inequality. They point out that education can only be truly acquired in one’s mother tongue, and that the use of English has oppressed generations of Pakistanis.

The struggle for Urdu to be recognized as the national language continues, with cases pending in the Supreme Court. However, the lack of progress has led to fears that the English-speaking elite will continue to dominate Pakistani society, perpetuating a system of inequality and hindering the country’s development.