Speakers at a Hindko Literary and Cultural Conference have asked the Khyber Pakhunkhwa government to expedite the work on Hindko curriculum development and implement an earlier decision of introducing the teaching of Hindko at the primary schools along with four other native languages. The demand was made through a resolution passed at the one-day conference which as was organized at the Committee Hall in collaboration with a Peshawar-based literary, cultural and social welfare organization, Gandhara Hindko Board in district Kohat. A senior Hindko writer and poet, Prof Iqbal Paracha, presided over the moot which was first of its kind in the southern Kohat district. Member National Assembly (MNA) Sheharyar Afridi was the chief guest on the occasion. Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Ziaullah Bangash was the guest of honour. The first session of the conference was devoted to research-based papers reading. Muhammad Jan Atif, Shujaat Ali Rahi, Ahmad Paracha, Masoom Shah Masoom, Professor Iqbal Paracha and others threw light on the importance of Hindko language which is spoken by a considerable population of the Kohat like other districts of the province. The second session of the moot was reserved for folk music. The artistes from Kohat and Peshawar performed on the occasion and won appreciation for rendering Hindko folk songs. There was a poetry recital in the third session. Apart from local poets, those from Peshawar also read out pieces of poetry to the audience. MNA Sheharyar Afridi and MPA Ziaullah Bangash in their speeches said indigenous languages and cultures were among the noteworthy features of KP. Addressing the audience in Hindko language, the legislators said efforts being made for preservation and promotion native languages and culture should to be acknowledged and supported.
A noted Hindko writer, poet and researcher, Ziauddin Siddiqui, and Dr Salahuddin, who were part of the 18-member delegation from Peshawar, spoke about the efforts being made for the Gandhara Hindko Board since its launch in year 1993. Through one resolution, the participants of the moot urged the government to expedite the work on the development of the curriculum for introducing Hindko language teaching at the primary level at schools. They said Kohat should be included in the list of the districts where children would be offered an option to choose Hindko language at the primary level at schools. Another resolution asked the government to increase the duration of programmes from the Radio Pakistan at Kohat and launch a Hindko news bulletin from the station.
Source: The Frontier Post
