Well it is unfortunate that English has become a status symbol, but then that is the way our history has gone. Before English, it was Urdu (still is to some extent), and before then it was Farsi etc.
Language isnt an indication of how developed a nation is, but my argument is that to play a more productive role in the globalized world we live in today we have to atleast know the very basics of the English Language, which has become the primary medium through which ideas in this world are expressed.
And considering no real translation work is being done, its important that Pakistanis are able to understand without translation work.
English is important at the moment (because English speaking nations are currently leaders in world economy and are superpowers) but every province in Pakistan should also concentrate on refining, developing and then using their own languages because they are our identities and define who we are. I pitty the South/Central Americans who have adopted Spanish forever at the hands of colonists like a bunch of slaves, or the Africans who did likewise and adopted Dutch or the Berbers who have also lost their language.
Look at Turkey, China, Japan, France, Spain and even some Arab country's, when I go to their websites which are entirely in their own tongues (regardless of script used) I feel like saluting them because I admire their originality, there's no desire to try and emulate someone they're not and can never be because they are confident and content in themselves.
We shouldn't not learn English, it is important at least for now but giving it undue importance or thinking it is a matter of prestige (especially when you speak it like someone from Karachi or Lahore) is... well.. gay!!
Languages evolve as they have always done, evolving ones language by incorporating from other languages is fine and even necessary for it to be up-to-date, versatile and efficient. It's happened with all languages including English and will continue to do so, otherwise a language becomes inefficient and outdated. I think Turks and Hindus who try to "purify" Turkish and Hindi of Perso-Arabic influences or Persians who do the same with Arabic words in their language or Arabs who do not adopt charecters such as "P" in their language are being silly, short-sighted and immature.
Same can be said about other aspects of culture, adopting certain things from other nations is nothing bad and somethings can now even be classed as universal instead of associated with any particular group such as so called "western" attire which everyone around the world wears but one should always retain their distinct identity by not abandoning their tongues.
Since literacy rate in Pakistan is around 35% and of which 10% know how to speak english.
But that is misleading because many can watch english movies and read english newspapers but can't converse in english...
I think 10% of that 10% can converse in english fluently...
So on pure numeric terms
Pakistan's population = 165 Million
Literacy Rate = 35% or 57,750,000 Million people
Understanding English = 5,775,000
Speaking English Fluently = 577,500
So about half a million people can speak english fluently without hesitation...
So thats rougly around 0.35% of Pakistan's Population which is really bad....
Look at Turkey, China, Japan, France, Spain and even some Arab country's, when I go to their websites which are entirely in their own tongues (regardless of script used) I feel like saluting them because I admire their originality, there's no desire to try and emulate someone they're not and can never be because they are confident and content in themselves.
We shouldn't not learn English, it is important at least for now but giving it undue importance or thinking it is a matter of prestige (especially when you speak it like someone from Karachi or Lahore) is... well.. gay!!
Languages evolve as they have always done, evolving ones language by incorporating from other languages is fine and even necessary for it to be up-to-date, versatile and efficient. It's happened with all languages including English and will continue to do so, otherwise a language becomes inefficient and outdated. I think Turks and Hindus who try to "purify" Turkish and Hindi of Perso-Arabic influences or Persians who do the same with Arabic words in their language or Arabs who do not adopt charecters such as "P" in their language are being silly, short-sighted and immature.
Same can be said about other aspects of culture, adopting certain things from other nations is nothing bad and somethings can now even be classed as universal instead of associated with any particular group such as so called "western" attire which everyone around the world wears but one should always retain their distinct identity by not abandoning their tongues.
Excellent efforts, keep it up, I think you have put it more right.