PAKISTAN, a multilingual nation, hosts over 70 languages, including Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki and Urdu, alongside minority languages. English dominates higher education, administration and international communication, offering socio-economic mobility but marginalizing regional languages. This linguistic imbalance exacerbates educational and economic disparities while threatening cultural diversity.
Effective language planning is vital for inclusivity and equity. Policies promoting mother-tongue education enhance comprehension and academic success. Research shows that children learning in their native language excel academically, with better literacy and numeracy outcomes. Preserving endangered languages through digital archives and promoting regional literature, poetry and folklore enrich cultural heritage. Additionally, vocational training in regional languages boosts employability, while English proficiency programs bridge global competitiveness gaps, supporting economic growth.
Language policies in Pakistan often exclude regional languages, despite the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasizing inclusivity and equity. The SDGs highlight the role of languages in education (SDG 4), economic growth (SDG 8), reducing inequalities (SDG 10) and preserving cultural heritage (SDG 11). Current policies prioritize English for socio-economic advancement and Urdu for national unity, sidelining regional languages. This exclusion hinders educational access and economic opportunities for non-Urdu and non-English speakers, particularly in rural areas. With a literacy rate of 58%, Pakistan lags behind regional peers partly due to alienating language policies.
Children learning in their mother tongue are 30% more likely to achieve basic literacy, but regional languages are rarely used in schools. Economically, English as a prerequisite for lucrative jobs marginalizes regional language speakers, deepening socio-economic divides.
Culturally, the lack of support for regional languages threatens their survival. Nearly 27 languages in Pakistan face extinction, as Urdu and English dominate media, education and governance, eroding indigenous identity and cultural richness. Linguistic imperialism perpetuates inequalities and disempowers regional language speakers, highlighting the need for equitable language policies.
To align Language Policy and Planning (LPP) with SDGs, Pakistan must adopt inclusive, multilingual strategies. Introducing mother-tongue education in early schooling, transitioning to bilingual models with Urdu and English, and training teachers in multilingual pedagogy are crucial steps. Vocational training in regional languages can enhance employability, while English proficiency programs ensure global competitiveness. Preserving cultural heritage requires establishing digital archives for endangered languages and promoting regional literature and folklore through media and festivals. Government services and legal proceedings should be accessible in multiple languages to ensure linguistic equity.
Public awareness campaigns can highlight the value of linguistic diversity, with initiatives like celebrating International Mother Language Day advocating for inclusion. By reforming language policies to reflect Pakistan’s linguistic diversity, the nation can foster equity, promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, and preserve its cultural heritage. Adopting inclusive, multilingual strategies will ensure no community is left behind, advancing sustainable development and safeguarding Pakistan’s identity.
—The writer is Lecturer in English, Institute of Humanities and Arts, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.
(waheed.shahzad@kfueit.edu.pk)
