ISLAMABAD, September 30: Renowned educationist Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nizamuddin (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) has stressed that promoting national, regional and local languages is essential for academic, cultural and socioeconomic development.He was addressing the National TransVision Summit 2026, organized by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in connection with World Translation Day.Prof. Dr. Nizamuddin said quality education and research in native languages could enhance students’ intellectual and analytical abilities while helping preserve, develop and transmit national languages to future generations.Speaking as host, AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood said the university was taking practical steps to promote national, regional and local languages and would further expand these initiatives.
He said AIOU had established the Centre for Language and Translation Studies at its main campus to undertake academic and research activities in Translation Studies and Applied Linguistics. A PhD programme in Applied Linguistics had also been launched under the Centre, while seminars and conferences were being organized to encourage translation across different languages.The Vice Chancellor said Gramora had been introduced to promote the Urdu language, while the university was also considering establishing computational infrastructure and a dedicated publishing office to bring linguistic research and translation in line with modern technological requirements.
Speakers at the summit emphasized that Pakistan needed a comprehensive national language policy amid the rapidly expanding influence of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. They called for greater efforts to preserve and promote translation, linguistics, and national and regional languages.They also stressed the need to develop Translation Studies as a systematic academic and research field through coordinated efforts by universities, institutions, experts and researchers.The speakers noted that AIOU, with its extensive educational network, research capabilities and nationwide outreach, could play a significant role in advancing Translation Studies and linguistic research at the national level.The National TransVision Summit was organized by AIOU’s Centre for Language and Translation Studies in collaboration with the University of Gujrat and other universities and institutions. It provided a platform for national dialogue on the relationship between Translation Studies, Applied Linguistics, language technology, terminology development, linguistic resources and language policy.
Prof. Dr. Syeda Faleeha Zahra Kazmi, Prof. Dr. M. Saleem Mazhar, Dr. Alia Sohail Khan, Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif, Prof. Dr. Saadat Hasan Saeed, Muhammad Hameed Shahid and Dr. Ghulam Ali, along with linguists, translators, teachers, researchers and intellectuals, participated in the summit.The participants highlighted the importance of safeguarding national and regional languages and aligning translation and linguistic research with contemporary academic and technological developments.
