Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, on Wednesday unveiled the first three volumes of the revised edition of the Urdu Lughat (Tarikhi Usool Par), emphasizing the government’s commitment to preserving Pakistan’s linguistic and cultural heritage. The event marked a significant step in the publication of all 22 volumes of this historic dictionary, underlining Urdu’s role as a guardian of the nation’s identity.
According to Press Information Department, the launch ceremony, organized by the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), saw attendance from notable figures including Federal Secretary Asad Rehman Gilani, linguist Dr. Haji Muhammad Rafiq Pardesi, and various literary scholars and linguists. Minister Khichi underscored the importance of the Urdu language and assured ongoing government support for initiatives that bolster the country’s literary heritage.
Minister Khichi praised the beautifully printed Nastaliq edition and the contributions of the National Heritage and Culture Division in promoting cultural and linguistic legacy. He further lauded Dr. Pardesi’s contributions and announced his recommendation for a prestigious civil award. Federal Secretary Gilani highlighted the dictionary’s role in preserving intellectual traditions and commended the NLPD and its Director General, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, for their efforts.
Prof. Mazhar noted the dictionary’s significance in the global scholarly community and recalled the publication timeline of its previous volumes. Executive Director Dr. Rashid Hameed acknowledged the financial support from Dr. Pardesi, which facilitated the revised edition’s publication, and expressed confidence in completing the remaining volumes with government backing.
Dr. Pardesi described the dictionary as a vital resource for linguistic research, reflecting on his contribution to preserving Urdu, his “mother language.” The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Minister Khichi and Dr. Pardesi for the publication of all dictionary volumes. Dr. Pardesi also presented sacred relics and a special copy of the Holy Quran to the minister, who in turn awarded him a certificate of appreciation for his services to Urdu promotion.