ISLAMABAD, September 21: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) organized a one-day international workshop on “Development of Multimodal Datasets for Pakistani Languages”, where experts highlighted the importance of creating high-quality linguistic datasets for the preservation, documentation and digital representation of Pakistan’s diverse languages in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The inaugural session was chaired by Professor Dr. Syed Amir Shah, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, AIOU, who said that standardized multimodal datasets would provide a strong foundation for linguistic research, education and the development of modern language technologies. He appreciated the efforts of the Department of English and the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) for initiating this important research project.Fakhruddin Akhunzada, Executive Director FLI, stated that around 80 languages are spoken in Pakistan, many of which face challenges regarding documentation and preservation. He said that data collection for six Pakistani languages had already been completed under the project, while local communities were also being trained in language documentation.
Dr. Muhammad Kamal Khan, Chairman Department of English, AIOU, informed that multimodal datasets of languages including Pashto, Punjabi, Hazaragi and Saraiki had been developed, which would support linguistic research and Artificial Intelligence applications.Dr. Maisam Ali of Indiana University, USA, Principal Investigator of the project, said that comprehensive linguistic data had been collected through teamwork and modern research methodologies. He added that the dataset would help preserve local languages and support their integration into future AI systems.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rashida Imran emphasized that documenting Pakistani languages and developing standardized datasets were essential for ensuring their representation in modern technologies. She highlighted the need for collaboration among universities, research institutions and local communities to protect Pakistan’s linguistic heritage.The workshop was organized by the Department of English, Allama Iqbal Open University in collaboration with the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) as part of the university’s ongoing professional training programme.
