Former Leader of the Opposition in the District Assembly and leader of the Awami National Party, Muhammad Saeed Zahir Advocate, has expressed support for the demand of the Ilmi Pashto Jirga to promote local languages, civilizations, and cultures instead of foreign ones.
He urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to intervene in the matter immediately, In a statement, Muhammad Saeed Zahir Advocate said that a few days ago, office-bearers and members of the Global Pashto Jirga pointed out during a meeting that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been promoting and patronizing Chinese, Central Asian, and other foreign languages, cultures, and civilizations. He said this was certainly regrettable.
Saeed Zahir Advocate stated that due to the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and what he described as the hostile attitude of the federal government, Pashto, Hindko, Saraiki, Chitrali Khowar, and other local languages, cultures, and civilizations are already in decline. Despite this, the provincial government has for several years been taking measures to promote the cultures and languages of China, Central Asia, and several other countries.
He further alleged that certain so-called organizations and individuals are receiving not only millions of rupees from the national exchequer but are also being allotted plots worth millions in connection with these activities.
Saeed Zahir Advocate remarked that it is surprising that, under the supervision of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, public universities are facing severe financial crises, while Pashto, Hindko, and Saraiki academies in these universities and their affiliated colleges are gradually being shut down.
He appealed to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to immediately take notice of the patronage being extended by the provincial Department of Culture and other relevant institutions and officials to such organizations and individuals, who, in the name of promoting Chinese, Central Asian, and other foreign languages and cultures, are receiving millions of rupees from the public treasury every year.
He also reminded Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Law Minister Aftab Alam, Information Minister Shafi Jan, and others that compared to Punjab and Sindh, the writers, poets, actors, singers, musicians, and other artists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been facing severe financial difficulties for many years. He urged the government to take appropriate measures to address their economic hardships.
Saeed Zahir further pointed out that due to security concerns, Nishtar Hall in Peshawar, the provincial capital, has remained closed for many years, causing cultural and social activities across the province to decline significantly. He called upon the government to reopen Nishtar Hall immediately and issue directives for the resumption of cultural, social, and welfare activities there.
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