This document discusses the various languages spoken in Pakistan. It begins by noting that Urdu is the national language but that many other languages are spoken regionally, including Balochi, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Pashto. It then provides brief overviews of each of these languages, describing their origins and influences. Balochi originated from tribes migrating from Iran and is spoken in Balochistan. Sindhi has been influenced by Arabic and Persian. Punjabi has influences from Persian, Arabic, Hindi, and others. Pashto is spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan and has been influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Greek.

1. Good Morning &
Asslam-o-Allikum
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2. Name:- Haris Asghar
Class:- Senior -1
Subject:- Pak Studies(History)
Teacher Name:- Sir Asif Nazir
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 The Lahore Lyceum(Shalimar Campus)

3. Languages of Pakistan
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4. Contents
Introduction
Types of Languages
Balochi
Sindhi
Punjabi
Pashto
National Language
Conclusion
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5. Introduction
Language is extremely important in the development of any state or national culture. The
acceptance of one single language as the ` national language` helps bring about uniformity and a
culture identity by binding a `people` together. A common language increase understanding and
helps build a shared understanding of what a nation believers in.
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6. Types of Languages of Pakistan
 In Pakistan many languages are spoken, but the
national language is Urdu. It is a relatively new
language and over time Muslims In the
subcontinent have spoken a wide variety of
languages.
 The languages are
 Balochi
 Sindhi
 Punjabi
 Pashto
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7. The National Language Pakistan
 When the sate of Pakistan was set up, its constitution stated that Urdu was the
national language. It was to symbol of unity between the different regions of the new
country.
 Urdu language developed a rich literary background which helped to promote its use.
Poetry has been significantly prevalent in Urdu for centuries. Amir Khusrau(1253-1325)
occupies a prominent position in its early development
 The language received a boost when Emperor Muhammad Shah and Bahdur Shah
Zafar took and interest in promoting it, the letter being a great poet himself
 Famous poets of this period are Mir, Sauda, Dard and Ghalib. Aligarh Muslim
University became a center for the study of Urdu and produced talented writers like
Hasrat Mohani, Majaz and Jazbi. In the early twentieth centaury Dr. Allama Iqbal and
Allama Shibli greatly enriched Urdu Prose and poetry, producing numerous literary
masterpieces.
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8. Balochi Language
 Balochi is the language spoken in Baluchistan, the largest of Pakistan`s provinces,
though other languages, such as Persian and brohi are also spoken in the
province. There are two main kinds of Balochi, `Sulemanki` and `Mekrani`
 The Balochi language was brought into Baluchistan by tribes which migrated
from North-West Iran. They were nomadic people who rarely settled in any other
place for long period of time.
 The first time Balochi language became known outside the region was in 1830
when the British traveler, W. Leech, reported in the Journal of Asiatic Society
about the existence of Balochi language and literature.
 Before Partition Balochi literature was beginning to decline. There were few
books or magazines published in Balochi and even the Baluchistan Gazetteer
was published in English.
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9. Sindhi Language
 Before the arrival of the Muslims, Sindhi was written in the `Marwari` and `Arz Nagari` ways of writing. When
the Arabs settled in Sindh their culture and literature had a major impact on Sindhi. Many Arabs words were
absorbed into the language and the language was written in the Arabic script.
 When the Muslims first settled in The Sindhi in the eight centaury, they found that two languages were being
spoken. Arabic was the language of the administration, but Sindhi was the language was the language
spoken by the most of the people. This remained the case until subcontinent fell under the influence on the
Turkish tribes of central Asia, who bought their Persian language with them. Consequently Sindhi has been
greatly influenced by both the Arabic and Persian language.
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10. Punjabi Language
 Punjabi is the language spoken in the most populous of Pakistan`s provinces the Punjabi, though it is
also spoken in other areas, such as Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is an easily understood
language which has been given various different name throughout history.
 For example it has been referred to as `Masoodi`, `Al- Hindi` and `Hindko`. It is thought that in 1080,
Hafiz Barkhurdar was the first to have used the term `Punjabi` to describe the language. Punjabi has a
long history. Originally it was written in Gurmukhi script, but during the latter years of the Mughals,
Arabic script was used.
 The Punjabi language has been influenced by many other languages, such as Persian, Arabic, Hindi,
Turkish and English. Several different Punjabi dialects exist and in the Western Punjabi the language
has also been influenced by Sindhi and Pashto.
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11. Pashto Language
 Pashto is the language spoken by the people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in the
northern areas of Balochistan. Like most languages it has been heavily influenced by other
languages, such as Arabic, Persian and Greek.
 According to 19th-century linguist James Darmesteter and modern linguist Michael M. T.
Henderson, Pashto is “descended from Avesten. The Rabatak inscription of
Emperor Kanishka written in Bactrain and Greek contains words are borrowed from Pashto
language due to their proximity to the modern Pashto language.
 Strabo, who lived between 64 BC and 24 CE, explains that the tribes inhabiting the lands
west of the Indus River were part of Ariana and to their east was India. Since the 3rd century
CE and onward, they are mostly referred to by the name Afghan (Abgan) and their language
as "Afghani"
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