First-ever Urdu Digital Dictionary a milestone toward promotion of national language

ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (APP):Advisor to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH), Irfan Siddiqui Wednesday said first ever Urdu digital dictionary compiled after 52 years long struggle will help students and researchers understand the intricacies of Urdu language and serve as milestone for promotion of Urdu language.
He was speaking at the ceremony held at Aiwan-i-Sadar to launch the Urdu Digital Dictionary carrying 22 volumes and 2,64,000 words. The dictionary was compiled by Urdu Dictionary Board (UDB). The Urdu Digital Dictionary was formally launched by President Mamnoon Hussain.
Speaking on the occasion, Irfan Siddiqui said, the work on adding phonics sounds in this dictionary is in progress to help students learn exact pronunciation of Urdu words which will be completed soon.
He announced that a concise Urdu dictionary for daily usage will also be compiled soon to facilitate students and masses.
Irfan Siddiqui said UDB was established in the year 1958 with the name of Urdu Development Board and now is working under NH&LH Division since two years.
The main objective behind establishing this institute was to compile an authentic and state of the art Urdu dictionary.
The work on Urdu Dictionary was started by Baba-i-Urdu, Maulvi Abdul Haq while those who assisted in this task included Naseem Amar Dehvi, Dr. Shaukat Sabzwari, Dr. Akhtar Hussain Raipuri, Dr. Shaheedullah, Dr. Farman Fatehpuri, Dr. Hanif Foq, Professor Sehar Ansari and many other prominent scholars. Irfan Siddiqui said the 22 volumes of Urdu Dictionary were digitised to ensure access of common citizens and help them understand their national language.
He said the project of Urdu Digital Dictionary was completed with the cost of Rs. 13.2 million under the supervision of Head of UDB, Syed Aqeel Abbas Jaffari.
Irfan Siddiqui announced that his division is working on the projects of compilation of Iqbal Dictionary and Farhang-i-Ghalib to help students understand the literature of Allama Iqbal and Mirza Ghalib.
He further said the work on compilation of Urdu-Chinese Dictionary is in process.
This dictionary is being compiled in Urdu, Chinese and English languages. Listing some other book friendly initiatives, Irfan Siddiqui said National Book Foundation has provided books worth Rs. 350 million to the book lovers on discounted rates. While Braille Book Corner has been established at National Library Of Pakistan to facilitate visually impaired children. The ministry of Information and Technology has donated 20 computers for these children.
To facilitate deaf children, a software is being developed by Ministry of Information Technology, he said. Irfan Siddiqui revealed that the foundation stone of new offices of Pakistan Academy of Letters at Dadu, FATA, Muzzafarabad, Gilgit and Multan is being laid soon to expand the circle of literary activities. He also disclosed that his division is arranging a calligraphy competition among young calligraphers below the age of 35 years next month. While earlier, two calligraphy exhibitions were arranged to promote this glorious Islamic art. The NH&LH division was created as per vision of President Mamnoon Hussain and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to reactivate historical, educational and literary institutions in the country. Today these institutions are diligently working to uphold the mission of promoting arts, literature and culture, he said.