ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi has called for the international promotion of Pakistan’s Urdu language, literature, history and intellectual heritage, stressing the need to introduce the country’s rich literary and academic contributions to audiences around the world.The federal minister made these remarks during his visit to the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), where he reviewed the institution’s activities and expressed satisfaction over its performance.
He also congratulated NLPD Executive Director Dr. Rashid Hameed on the inclusion of five textbooks authored by him in the academic curriculum and appreciated his contributions to scholarship, literature and education.Aurangzeb Khan Khichi directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the department’s literary, academic and research work is effectively showcased not only at the national level but also internationally. He said greater global visibility would help the world understand the importance of the institution and its role in promoting Pakistan’s language and literary heritage.The minister stressed that important books published in Urdu should be translated into other languages and their exhibitions should be taken beyond Pakistani cities to international platforms. He particularly proposed organizing exhibitions of Pakistani books and intellectual works in Central Asian countries.He further directed that books on the culture and history of Central Asian countries that have already been translated into Urdu should also be displayed at such exhibitions. Special attention, he said, should be given to books authored by presidents and other prominent personalities of those countries.
The federal minister also emphasized the international promotion of books on Pakistan’s culture, history and civilization that have been translated into Russian, Azerbaijani, Uzbek and Persian. Such literary exchanges, he noted, could play an important role in strengthening cultural and intellectual ties between Pakistan and other countries.During the visit, the minister also offered various proposals aimed at improving the department’s efficiency and expanding its activities. He stressed that modern, innovative and internationally oriented initiatives should be adopted for the promotion of the national language and literature.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi also praised the academic and teaching services of Dr. Rashid Hameed, a distinguished scholar of Allama Iqbal, writer, educationist and Executive Director of the National Language Promotion Department. He congratulated Dr. Hameed on the publication of his textbooks under the Punjab Textbook Board and on the inclusion of five of his books in the curriculum, describing his scholarly services to the country as highly commendable.A significant milestone in Dr. Rashid Hameed’s academic career is the publication of his Urdu textbooks on Pakistan Studies for Classes 10 and 12 under the Punjab Textbook Board. Their English translations have also been published. Earlier, his History textbook for Class 8 had been included in the curriculum in 2022, bringing the total number of his published curriculum textbooks to five.Dr. Hameed’s Class 8 History textbook, for which he served as the principal writer, was published in English in 2022. In 2026, his Urdu Pakistan Studies textbooks for Classes 10 and 12 were published, followed by their English translations.
The development represents significant recognition of his academic, research and writing contributions.Director General of the National Language Promotion Department Dr. Mazhar Saleem was also present on the occasion. Dr. Rashid Hameed and Dr. Mazhar Saleem presented the federal minister with a selection of books published by the department.The federal minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing effective measures for the promotion of Pakistan’s national language, literature, history and cultural heritage. He said the country’s rich intellectual and literary capital would be presented more vigorously on international platforms to enhance Pakistan’s cultural and scholarly profile worldwide.
