Why is Urdu the national language of Pakistan?

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Good question, while we are at it why the hec is hockey our national sport? When .005% people play the sport?

Disclaimer: This is not an official figure, just a figure I came across while reading contents of my Twinkie

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Re: Why is Urdu the national language of Pakistan?

I dont think it is a correct stats.
My guess would be around 50%.

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I think 8% is on the high side.

Pakistan's literacy rate is about 25%. And out of those only few speak it at home. Mostly in Karachi.

But almost 90% understand it thanks to TV.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by funguy: *

But almost 90% understand it thanks to TV.
[/QUOTE]

Thats kool. So what is the other most understood language. What is the percentage in your opinion?

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I have been out of the country way too long. But if you go by the recent TV programs that involve public, it seems 99% are speaking English. Only the host asks question in Urdu and people (bachay barray sub) jawaab angrezi mai.

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Re: Why is Urdu the national language of Pakistan?

so what do the rest 92% speak?

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yeh english, except for the farmers in interior sindh - they still speak french there.

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Languages : Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by queer: *
yeh english, except for the farmers in interior sindh - they still speak french there.
[/QUOTE]

You are mean.

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they also have french in pakistan? i’m confused…:mudhosh:

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Edited

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It is called head in the arse in French. 8% should shove it. the remaining 86 % should speak arabic since we are so close to Oman.

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well, the key here lies in "over 90% understand urdu". That's all what matters, because in different countries, like India, hardly 20% understand hindi while rest speak their mother-tongues but in pakistan majority understands urdu.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by BrokenSky: *
well, the key here lies in "over 90% understand urdu". That's all what matters, because in different countries, like India, hardly 20% understand hindi while rest speak their mother-tongues but in pakistan majority understands urdu.
[/QUOTE]

probably more like 65-75% in india. then again ask someone actually from there.

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are the 8% who call it their mother tongue too dumb to learn the language of where they live? it's been some 50 years, they sure have some big bug up their dialogue. These same people will learn English before they even get a visa, why can't they learn Sindhi or Punjabi? Fk Urdu, it is not the language of Pakistan, and Majority of us don't understand it. Talk to me in Punjabi to be heard!!

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How about we don't talk to you at all? This can be arranged.

And the people of Karachi talk in the language that is around them, which is Urdu. Go to Hyderabad or other parts of Sindh with mohajir population and every mohajir will speak Sindhi since it is the language spoken around there. In Punjab, it's Punjabis themselves who don't like their own language.

I think this idea that mohajirs will nto speak the local language is partly wrong, since we all live among each other, that it is not possible to learn other languages, especially since state policy pro-urdu. Now this can be changed.

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To answer the original question, it was Jinnah who made Urdu national language.

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Madhanee bhaijan, some days u sound so intelligent, other days, totally dumb.

Now tell me if there was no urdu, how was a sindhi to communicate with a pathan or a punjabi with a balochi? Urdu provides us a link between all these different language speaking people and I reckon it was a very smart move to have Urdu as a national language. Majority of people do understand and can communicate it in, even if they are not totally fluent in it.

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Re: Why is Urdu the national language of Pakistan?

because 99% understand it… :yawn: