Punjabi and its Future in Pakistan

Adeel Ahmed, Yasar Iqbal, Sharjeel Ashraf, Sundus Gohar, Sumaira Mukhtar

Abstract

When the largest community of Pakistan, the Punjabis, are abandoning their language, this paper aims to explore the maximum range of factors upon which the speakers of this language, who are worried about its dismal scenario, can cater to hopes for the survival of their mother tongue. Factors such as the stigmatization of Punjabi as a foul language at many of our educational institutions and having a little number of academic careers and job opportunities in private and public sectors make the future of Punjabi in Pakistan very grim. However, the future of Punjabi is not asdismal as it is propagated. This article investigates the future of Punjabi in the opinion of professionals. The researcher conducted interviews, as data, from five heads of the Punjabi Departments at public sector universities. The participants point out various hurdles in Punjabi and its establishment/ acknowledgment as a national language. Still, at the same time, they point out factors that give strength to this language and upon which its disappointed speakers can pave ways for its spread at a national level. The findings show that the demise of Punjab is nothing more than a misleading rumor. Due to time constraints, the researcher collected data from 5 heads of departments. Furthermore, the topic can be explored by probing businessmen, parents, and laymen to get a wider perspective.