International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) President Prof. Dr. Ahmad Saad Alahmed today called on universities to take a stronger, more active role in preserving and promoting Pakistan’s mother languages and cultural heritage during the inaugural session of the Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival 2026 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The three-day national festival (February 13–15, 2026) was jointly organized by the Indus Cultural Forum, Pakistan National Council of the Arts and the International Islamic University Islamabad in a multi-institutional partnership, bringing together scholars, writers, artists and policymakers to celebrate Pakistan’s linguistic diversity and cultural traditions. The opening ceremony featured the inauguration of an art exhibition and welcome remarks by Muhammad Ayub Jamal, Director General PNCA, and Naseer Memon, Chairperson of the Indus Cultural Forum. The event set the stage for discussions on language preservation, literary production, and the integration of mother languages into academic curricula and research.
Addressing academics, cultural leaders and students, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Saad Alahmed emphasized that universities must go beyond documentation and become active hubs for language teaching, creative production and community outreach. He outlined practical steps universities can adopt: developing degree programs and short courses in regional languages, supporting research in linguistics and oral histories, digitizing manuscripts and recordings, and partnering with local communities to sustain intergenerational language transmission. “Our universities must be guardians and promoters of linguistic diversity,” he said. “Preserving mother languages is not only an academic task but a civic responsibility that strengthens social cohesion and cultural identity.”
Festival panels and workshops over the following days will cover subjects including regional literary histories, bilingual education models, translation and publishing strategies, and arts-based methods for language revitalization. Participants will include university researchers, school teachers, poets, dramatists, and media professionals who will share best practices and explore policy recommendations to expand support for mother languages across Pakistan. Organizers highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action at provincial and national levels to allocate resources, update curricula, and build digital infrastructure for endangered languages.
The festival also showcases art, music and storytelling, providing a platform for young creators to present multilingual works and for traditional artists to engage with new audiences. By linking cultural expression with scholarly research and policy dialogue, the Pakistan Mother Languages Literature Festival aims to generate sustainable initiatives that keep mother tongues vibrant in classrooms, homes and public life.