Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, has issued a strong warning to university vice chancellors, emphasizing that Urdu, Pakistan’s national language, must be used in official communication across universities in the province.
The chief minister expressed dissatisfaction after being addressed in English during an official interaction. He stated that such practice would no longer be tolerated and stressed the importance of promoting Urdu in government and educational institutions.
Sohail Afridi said he has already issued clear instructions to all universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure that Urdu is used in formal correspondence, meetings, and official proceedings. He warned university administrations to strictly comply with these directives in the future.
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The chief minister highlighted that using the national language reflects national identity and cultural values. He added that promoting Urdu in official settings would help strengthen unity and ensure broader public understanding.
Officials present at the meeting acknowledged the directive and assured compliance with the chief minister’s instructions. Education authorities said steps would be taken to implement the policy effectively across public sector universities.
The move has sparked discussion among academic circles, with some supporting the emphasis on Urdu as a symbol of national pride, while others stress the importance of maintaining a balance between national language promotion and global academic standards.
Overall, the directive signals the provincial government’s renewed focus on enforcing the use of Urdu in official matters and reinforcing Pakistan’s linguistic identity.
