Speakers call for promoting Persian language in Pakistan

The conference of Persian teachers of universities and colleges of Pakistan was organized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with Cultural Consulate of the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad.

Expressing his views, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said that the Persian and Urdu languages have rich historical backgrounds, and this is a common factor in the development of cooperation between the two countries.

The Iranian envoy added that the Persian language is the language of mystics, poets and scholars, and it is our duty to work to educate future and present generations to teach Persian creatively though based on Islamic and human values.

“We must look towards our culture and great heritage instead of looking towards the culture of the west,” he noted

Expressing his views, Cultural Counsellor of the Iran Embassy Shahaboddin Daraei said that since the ancient times Iran and the Muslims of subcontinent have been tied in the eternal bond of friendship.

He noted the Persian language holds a very important place in the society of Pakistan. The diplomat said that most of the work of great philosopher and thinker of Islam Muhammad Iqbal Lahori is in Persian language and without knowing Persian one cannot properly understand the message of Iqbal Lahori.

He said that Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has termed the Persian language as the language of miracle.

Shahaboddin Daraei noted that most of the Islamic scholars and thinkers have expressed themselves in Persian language.

He stressed the need for promotion of Persian language in Pakistani institutions, adding that Cultural Consulate of the Embassy of Iran is fully ready to cooperate in this regard.

Chairman, HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said that Muslims are suffering in the world now because they have left the path shown by the elders. “We are divided as a result of different conspiracies,” he said.

Ahmed said that younger generation of Muslims of Pakistan have to learn Persian language to better understand the creative thoughts which are mostly written in the Persian language.

“We have to come back to our roots,” he said.

Expressing his views, Director General Khana-e-Farhang Iran Ali Aghanouri his views said that Persian is one of the important languages of Islam. He said that Persian has remained the official language of the subcontinent and the roots of Pakistani history are in the Persian language.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar said that without learning Persian language nobody can fully understand about the history of Pakistan. He said that Iran and Pakistan are very close to each other.

Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Ikram Shah said that Persian is an important language of Muslims of subcontinent. “Our roots are in Persian language,” said the scholar. He said that national poet of Pakistan Iqbal Lahori has compiled majority of his works in Persian language.

Professor Ikram Shah said that Muslims need to know the message of Iqbal who had always desired for unity among Muslims.

During the conference honorary shields were also awarded to those Pakistani scholars who have contributed to the promotion of Persian language in Pakistan.

272**6125**2050

Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish