by Gulrukh Tausif

Created on: September 28, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Pakistan is a multilingual nation and most Pakistanis can speak and understand two or more languages. The national language of Pakistan is Urdu which is widely understood and spoken in all parts of the country. English is still the official language while most people also converse in their native languages which are different for each of the four provinces of Pakistan. There is also a rising trend among the people to learn Arabic which is the language of the Holy Quran, the sacred book of the Muslims.

URDU:

The word "Urdu" owes its origin to the Mongol hordes that swept across Central Asia in the Middle Ages. The Mongol military camp was known as 'ordo' in Turkish, 'horde' in English and 'Urdu' in the Tartar language. The descendants of these earlier barbaric Mongols were the Mughals who established the Mughal dynasty in the sub continent in 1526. Urdu became the word for the language that was spoken in the royal military camps.

It perfectly represents the blending of natives and foreigners in the South Asian region where locals, traders, merchants, invaders, immigrants and foreign armies met, interacted and left a lasting impression on the culture of this region. Urdu is an amalgamation of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Sanskrit elements with its own distinctive grammar and vocabulary. Many distinguished poets, philosophers and writers added to the charm of this language by bestowing a rich literary tradition upon it. Urdu became the national language of Pakistan after its creation in 1947.

ENGLISH:

English is widely understood but imperfectly spoken in Pakistan. It is the official language and is widely used in the government, the judiciary, the legislature, in business and commerce and educational institutes. Pakistan's constitution and its laws are also written in English.

PUSHTO:

Pushto is the language spoken commonly in the North West frontier province of Pakistan. A race known for their warrior like character, the Pathans have a unique appreciation of art and poetry. Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba were very famous Pushto poets.

SINDHI:

Sindhi is the language spoken in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is one of the oldest languages of Pakistan and one of the first languages in which the Holy Quran was translated. The word "Sindh" has its origin in River Indus which is one of the major rivers of the sub continent. This language is also a mixture of Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit.

BALUCHI:

The native language of the Baluchistan province, this language has many dialects. The Sulaimani dialect is spoken in the north and north-west regions while the Makrani dialect is common in south near Iran. Many epics, ballads and short poems exist in Baluchi language, that are sung in the company of "nari" a Baluchi musical instrument.

PUNJABI:

This is one of the oldest languages of the sub continent and is mostly spoken in rural areas of Punjab province. It is the languages of Sufis, saints and poets. Simple yet forceful, this language is a treasure trove of beautiful poetry, romantic ballads and Sufi verses.

Hindko, Brahwi, Seraiki, Shahpuri, Malwi, and many other indigenous languages are also spoken in small pockets of Pakistan. Each language of Pakistan is replete with rich classical traditions, folklore and literature with famous poets and writers expressing their thoughts and penning exquisite poetry in these languages.

Languages spoken in Pakistan give voice to its ancient history, cultural diversity and rich literary traditions. They are as diverse, fertile and unique as the terrain of this land.

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