Abstract:
Pakistan is a multi-lingual country. No less than 24 languages and dialects are spoken by the people of Pakistan.
 

• Five major regional languages are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Baluchi, Brahvi and Kashmiri.

• These languages are rich in literature, poetry, folk songs, spiritual quotes of their respective saints and contribute greatly to the culture of Pakistan.

"The regional languages, though distinct from each other in their forms, dialects and expressions of thoughts, have several common factors in them. They cultivate in them love, respect and a firm adherence to the Pakistan Ideology"

Punjabi

• Punjabi is the language of the province 'Punjab'.

• Punjabi links back to the Aryan language Prakrit. However, with time, the vocabulary of Punjabi language became a mixture of Persian, Arabic and Turkish words.

• It has different dialects in different parts of Punjab like 'Saraiki' and 'Potohari'. But the basic language remains the same.

• Panjabi is rich in mystical and romantic poetry.
   

Punjabi has two sub types :

1.  "Lyric Poetry," which includes Bait, Kafi-si-harfi, Bara Mah and Satwara.

2. "Narrative Poetry," which is composed of various rhythms and meters. Examples are Qissa Noor Namah, Gulzar, Jang Nama and Vaar.
    

Famous Punjabi Poets

Some of the famous poets of Punjabi language are:

1. Baba Farid Shakar Ganj Baksh

2. Shaikh Ibrahim Farid Sani

3. Madhu Lal Hussain

4. Sultan Bahu

5. Bhullay Shah

6. Ali Haider

7. Waris Shah
    

Sindhi

• Sindhi is one of the important regional language of Pakistan because it was spoken in the Indus Delta from time immemorial.

• Chach Nama is an authentic document that proves that the dialect of Sindhi language was the same in the 12th century, as it is today.

Famous Sindhi Poets
Some of famous Sindhi poets are following:

1. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai

2. Sachal Sarmast

3. Makhdoom Noor

4. Shah Inayat

5. Bedil

6. Sabit Ali Shah

7. Kazi Kazah

Steps taken to grow Sindhi
Various steps have been taken to develop Sindhi. Organizations like 'Sindhi Literary Board' and Bazm-e-Talib-ul-Maula were set up. Several newspapers are being published in Sindhi. These include Kawish, Ibrat, Naw-e-Sindhi and Khadim-e-Watan besides a number of weeklies.

Baluchi

• Baluchi is the regional language of Baluchistan.

• It is the least developed of all the regional languages.

• It was spread by Baluchi tribes that migrated from Iran.

The history of Baluchi literature may be divided into four periods:

1. Early Medieval Period - 1430 to 1600

2. Later Medieval Period - 1600 to 1850

3. Modern Period - 1850 to 1930

4. Contemporary Period - 1930 to date
    

• Literature produced by earlier poets is not in records, as it was preserved traditionally in the memories of the people.

• No newspapers or books were published in Baluchi up till 1940.

• After partition, however Baluchi literature received a little boost. It was due to the efforts made by various organizations and due to establishment of TV stations.

Types of Baluchi Language:

1. Sulemani

2. Makrani

Most literary figures of Balochi:

1. Azad Jamaldini

2. Ulfat Naseem

3. Abdul Qadir Shahwani

4. Malik Mohammad Ramzan

5. Mir Aqil Maingal

6. Well known poets of Baluchi language are:

7. Jam Darag

8. Shah Mureed

9. Shahdab

Pushto

• Pushto is the regional language of Khyber pakhtun khwa and tribal areas.

• It belongs to the East Iranian group of languages and contains many Persian, Arabic, Greek and Pehlevi words.

Steps taken to enhance Pushto

• Although Pushto is an old language but its literature is comparatively a new one. After independence education spread rapidly and Pushto literature received a great boost.

• The Pushto Academy Peshawar, some other literary societies and educational institutions such as Islamia College Peshawar helped develop Pushto literature.

Some of the well known poets of Pushto language

1. Amir Karoro

2. Khushal Khan Khatak

3. Rehman Baba

4. Sher Shah Soori

5. Saif Ullah

6. Kazim Kazim

Brahvi

• Brahvi is the next spoken language of Baluchistan.

• The Brahvi language is said to be one of Dravidian family of languages. It has borrowed heavily from Sindhi, Persian, Arabic and English.

• Brahvi literature has a vast treasure of folklores. It's script has been borrowed much from Pushto script.

Kashmiri

• Kashmiri is the language of the people of Azad Kashmir.

• This language has been derived from Sanskrit.

• Kashmiri is generally spoken in Muslim families of the valley.

• It is written in the Persian script.

• Kashmiri began with the composition of folk songs and ballads.

Famous authors of Kashmiri language

1. Sh.Nooruddin

2. Khatoon Lillah Anifa

3. Baba Nasiruddin

4. Ghani

Saraiki

• The Saraiki is a linguistic group from the south-eastern areas of Pakistan.

• The Seraikis maintain that they have a separate language and culture.

• It is mostly spoken in the southern and western districts of Punjab, which comprises Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan,Vehari, southern and western parts of Khanewal, southern parts of Bahawalnagar and western parts of Khushab districts.

• It is also spoken by the majority of the population of Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  province, kachi plain of Balochistan and northern parts of Sindh.

• Saraiki, belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European language groups.

• The number speaker of Saraiki Language are more than 120 Millions.

Hindkowans

• Hindkowans are believed to be the transitional group of people between Punjabis and Pashtuns.

• They are also known as Punjabi Pathans/Pathans of Punjab.

• Their traditional homeland are areas around Hazara division including Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur and Kohat as well.

• Hindko is a language which is widely understood in almost all regions of Pakistan.

• Around 1.8 million people speak this language.

• This language has similarity with the Saraiki dialect as well which is spoken in Dera Isamail Khan and some parts of Sindh.

Kalash

• Kalash language is member of the Dardic family

• Kalash language plays a highly significant and spiritual role in daily life of Kalasha people.

Urdu speaking/Muhajirs

• Muhajirs are a linguistic group of people

• The term Muhajirs can also refer to the diaspora of Urdu speakers.

• Majority of Muhajirs are settled in Karachi But there are other parts of Pakistan, including cities like Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, Peshawar where muhajirs have sizable community.