PM considers speaking in Urdu with Obama

[Zibago]

PM considers speaking in Urdu with Obama
September 10, 2015
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SHAFQAT ALI


ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is considering to speak in Urdu during his much anticipated meeting with US President Barrack Obama next month, The Nation learnt yesterday.

“There has been no decision yet but there is a possibility that Nawaz Sharif speaks in Urdu as we have started efforts to introduce Urdu as our main (official) language,” a source close to the premier confided.

“There are proposals from some advisors that this would be moral boosting for the nation.
Even if they speak to media after the meeting and the prime minister replies to the questions in Urdu, we will be among the nations who prefer their own language,” the close aide added.

Mr Sharif will meet President Obama on his invitation at the White House on October 22.
The invitation came during a recent visit to Islamabad by US National Security Adviser Susan Rice who met the premier.

US officials say that the meeting is intended to advance the mutual interests and address the areas of concern, particularly terrorist and militant attacks emanating from the Pakistani soil.

But before meeting President Obama, the prime minister will address the 70th session of UN General Assembly in which he will highlight Pakistan`s foreign policy and national priorities.
He will also hold meetings with world leaders and officials from various countries.
The government is currently holding consultations about raising the issue of Indian interference in Pakistan’s affairs at the world forum.

“The PM acknowledges that many heads of the states and governments speak in their own languages during meetings and news conferences so a Pakistani leader can do the same.
But it is still being considered whether to start with the UN General Assembly, the Obama meeting or wait for some later event,” said the source.
Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in Hindi as he addressed the UN General Assembly session, emulating former premier Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Urdu and Hindi are not among the official languages of the UN, which are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish but the speakers may opt to address in their own languages which could be translated for the audience by the interpreters.

In July, the federal government had told the Supreme Court that the prime minister had issued directives to grant official status to Urdu language, after which the President, the premier, federal and provincial ministers, and government employees will deliver speeches in Urdu - whether inside or outside the country.
Secretary Information Mohammed Azam said that under Prime Minister Sharif’s directions, websites for government institutions, utility bills, driving licences, passports and other documents will carry text in Urdu alongside English.

On May 14 this year, the cabinet had decided that Urdu would replace English as the official language as stated in Article 251 of the Constitution.

On Tuesday last, the Supreme Court ordered the concerned authorities to immediately enforce Urdu as official language at the government offices.

Information Minister Pervez Rashid says practical measures would be taken soon to implement the court decision on the issue.

Recently, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered to make Urdu as an official language for all government communications including national and foreign speeches made by government officials.

Upon the approval of the constitution in 1973, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kept Urdu as their official language and even provincial assembly members took their oath in the same language.

Federal Minister of Planning National Reforms and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the country is not entirely abandoning English, which will still be taught alongside Urdu in schools.

“It means Urdu will be a second medium of language and all official business will be bilingual,” he said.

http://nation.com.pk/national/10-Sep-2015/pm-considers-speaking-in-urdu-with-obama
@Shamain @friendly_troll96 @django @engineer saad @VARCHASVE @waz @WAJsal

 

[Maarkhoor]

Acha hey ab P.M ko ratta nahien laghana padhey gha...hum ma maa ba ba black sheep..

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Nawaz: Main chahta hoon Oaubama tum lahore aker , metro bus main nihari khane chalo

 

[Beethoven]

I don't know how productive this decision is going to be........people such as meself who find it easy communicating in English as compared to Urdu will be having a difficult time in coping with this change

 

[Viny]

There are proposals from some advisors that this would be moral boosting for the nation.

It might be a moral booster to the nation, but here he is talking to Obama and not nation, bechare Obama ka moral kyo down karne per lage ho...kuch nahi samaj payega woh...Confused dikhega....Sochega Nawaz ki battery down ho gayi hai..isliye barabar english nahi bol pa raha hai

There is no harm and no shame in using mother tongue , but its in general good to speak in a language that common between speaker and listener for better communications.

 

[Maarkhoor]

It might be a moral booster to the nation, but here he is talking to Obama and not nation, bechare Obama ka moral kyo down karne per lage ho...kuch nahi samaj payega woh...Confused dikhega....Sochega Nawaz ki battery down ho gayi hai..isliye barabar english nahi bol pa raha hai

Silly, there will be translator for both.

 

[Jackdaws]

Kinda nice to see him use an Indian language, no? Aman ki Asha indeed.

 

[slapshot]

Whats wrong in talking in English. Why not use a medium they both can understand and keep the nationalism aside.

 

[third eye]

“There are proposals from some advisors that this would be moral boosting for the nation.
Even if they speak to media after the meeting and the prime minister replies to the questions in Urdu, we will be among the nations who prefer their own language,” the close aide added.

The correct word is Morale not moral - Poor journalism. Moral has a different meaning & morals do not need boosting.

What language did he speak when they met last ?

 

[Star Wars]

Acha hey ab P.M ko ratta nahien laghana padhey gha...hum ma maa ba ba black sheep..

oh lord.....did he say that ??

 

[syedali73]

Right, maybe that way he will not need to consult with his notes aka 'parchi'. How unlucky Pakistan is to have such morons as PMs.

 

[saiyan0321]

Its not a bad step. They will have translators and the on using the national language will give boost to many officers and civil men as well in using Urdu. The supreme court has been doing a crack down in making sure Urdu is integrated into our official proceedings which is a great step. We need to create our identity and this can be a great way to start of. Translators will do the work while both leaders will talk with more ease in their native tongues.

 

[Bouncer]

I don't know how productive this decision is going to be........people such as meself who find it easy communicating in English as compared to Urdu will be having a difficult time in coping with this change

You'll be in that meeting bro?

JK. Most Pakistanis find it difficult to communicate in English. Plus trying to grasp new mathematical or scientific concepts in a foreign language is difficult for kids. I guess introducing these subjects in Urdu will bring a positive change. I don't have references to any studies/papers, just guessing.

 

[Kambojaric]

If it means he wont be holding a parchi in his hands reading English like a lagging drone whilst the whole world watches, then sure go for it.

 

[syed zain naqvi]

It might be a moral booster to the nation, but here he is talking to Obama and not nation, bechare Obama ka moral kyo down karne per lage ho...kuch nahi samaj payega woh...Confused dikhega....Sochega Nawaz ki battery down ho gayi hai..isliye barabar english nahi bol pa raha hai

There is no harm and no shame in using mother tongue , but its in general good to speak in a language that common between speaker and listener for better communications.

well said