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islamabad - The two-day Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival was concluded here Sunday after highlighting the value of various languages spoken in Pakistan at the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa.

The event was organised in collaboration with Indus Cultural Forum (ICF) and Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) on the theme of “Our Languages Our Identity”. It was planned to coincide with the International Mother Languages Day that is celebrated on February 21, declared by UNESCO. More than 150 writers from over 15 Pakistani mother languages participated in the event as speakers and moderators.

They discussed the importance to retain and nurture our mother languages which are dwindling in many cases, notwithstanding the social pressures - the significance of drama, prose, poetry, storytelling, television, promoting folk culture and other aspects in mother language.

The objectives of the festival were to promote Pakistan’s linguistic and cultural diversity as an instrument of social harmony, peace, tolerance and encouraging reading culture in mother languages.

The festival was an occasion to showcase a wide range of literary works in these languages, the organizers said. The major attractions of the festival included mother languages mushaira, mother languages music evening, discussions on languages, literature and culture, book launches, audio-visual screening, cultural performances, mother languages book stalls, food courts, cultural exhibitions and mobile library.

Most of the festival’s proceedings were in Urdu language while the participants were also encouraged to dress up in their respective cultural attire reflecting the identity of their area and language.

The event was a unique and first of its kind of opportunity to experience Pakistan’s linguistic and cultural diversity while the participants got rare chance to listen and meet over 150 writers, poets and cultural activists from over 15 Pakistani mother languages.

Lok Virsa has the mandate to promote and preserve the intangible and tangible cultural heritage of the country while the Indus Cultural Forum aims to provide multi-cultural space to celebrate all cultures of Pakistan. The concluding ceremony was followed by a musical show on the theme of Mother Languages in which popular singer Humera Channa enthralled the audience with her melodious singing skills.

Meanwhile, International Mother Language day 2016 was observed across the globe including Pakistan on Sunday with its theme “Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes”.

This underlines the importance of mother languages for quality education and linguistic diversity, to take forward the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men and their societies”, said by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General on the occasion of the day.

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 and proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage.

All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues served not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

In Pakistan the two-day Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival held at Lok Virsa, Islamabad on Sunday which features a variety of cultural activities in fifteen to twenty languages also include discussions on languages, literature and culture, book launches, mother language symposiums, music events, audio- visual screenings and performances.

Different organizations also held programmes, including walks, seminars, and cultural events to highlight the cultural and linguistic diversity.