http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-3-2004_pg7_7

LAHORE: The Punjab government will patronise the promotion of the Punjabi
language and all vacant posts of the Punjabi subject in the education
department will be filled on a priority basis, said Punjab Education Minister
Mian Imran Masood on Thursday.

Inaugurating Punjab House on Punj Road, Mr Masood said it was beyond discussion
that no nation could develop without the promotion of its mother tongue, “but
we must concentrate on the other side”.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had recently announced a
number of steps to promote the Punjabi language and the education department
would implement his directions.

He urged social and non-governmental organisations to raise public awareness
about their mother tongue.

Mr Masood said things had changed and now parliamentarians could speak in
Punjabi in the Punjab Assembly without prior permission. “We have the clear
examples of China, Japan and Korea, who developed themselves by living in their
own parameters,” added the minister.

He said students found it difficult to study Urdu, English, Punjabi and Arabic
at the same time, so experts were busy in research in this regard and the
education department would take steps in light of their recommendations.

Writer Mudassar Iqbal Butt said Punjab House would be a nest for Punjabi
writers and email and the Internet would be available there for the promotion
of the Punjabi language throughout the world.

Sughra Sadaf praised the efforts of the Punjab government to promote the
language.

World Punjabi Union President Malik Ghulam Rabbani urged the new generation not
to feel shy about speaking Punjabi.

Dr Ajmal Niazi, Professor Jamil A Paul and Member of the Punjab Assembly Shazia
Chand also addressed the function. AG Josh, Syed Akhtar Hussain Akhtar and
Hussain Shad were also present. —APP