We are pleased to share our Annual Report, capturing a year of growth, and collaboration. This publication highlights the initiatives we undertook, the communities we engaged, and the progress achieved in advancing cultural preservation, strengthening and inclusive development.
The report reflects not only our organizational milestones but also the collective spirit of partners, supporters, and communities who make this journey possible. We invite you to read through the stories, data, and reflections that illustrate how shared commitment can create lasting impact.

E-version: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f4cb098cac.html#page/1

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Lower Chitral witnessed a celebration of cultural heritage during the first week of February 2026, as the Pathak Festival was organized for the third consecutive year with the support of the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI). The festival, held in the Yadgha-speaking region, honored the spiritual legacy of Pir Nasir Khusro, a revered Sufi saint whose contributions continue to inspire cultural and spiritual life in the valley.

The event was hosted by FLI’s local partner, the Yadgha Development Network (YDN), and brought together scores of Yadgha-speaking community members—elders, youth, and women from diverse walks of life. The festival served as a cultural gala, showcasing the richness of Yadgha traditions through poetry recitals, musical performances, and speeches delivered in the Yadgha language.

Participants expressed heartfelt gratitude to FLI for its continued support in preserving and promoting their endangered language. Yadgha, spoken in southern Chitral, is recognized as one of the highly endangered languages of the region. Through sustained interventions—including documentation, training, and cultural events—FLI has been working to safeguard this linguistic heritage. Supporting the Pathak Festival is one of the key initiatives in this broader effort.

The festival not only celebrated the spiritual and cultural legacy of Pir Nasir Khusro but also reaffirmed the community’s commitment to keeping the Yadgha language alive for future generations.

Islamabad | January 31, 2026
FLI has launched a new project to promote poetry in the Ormuri and Palula languages. The initiative marks another milestone in FLI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen indigenous languages through creative and cultural expression.
The first activity of the project has begun at FLI’s Islamabad office, where a three-day training is underway for individuals directly involved in the program. Two representatives from Ormuri and two from Palula are participating in this training, which is designed to build their skills in both digital and print documentation of poetry. By the end of the program, participants will also be equipped to use social media platforms to share their work and celebrate the richness of their languages and cultures.
Earlier, following thorough discussions, FLI entered into agreements with both target language communities—Ormuri and Palula—leading to the conception of this poetry promotion project. The training aims to empower and equip community members with the necessary resources to implement the initiative effectively.
Both languages are spoken by around 20,000 people each in their respective regions. Palula, spoken in southern Chitral, has long been a literary language within FLI’s focus, while Ormuri, spoken in the Kaniguram area of South Waziristan Upper, has also been a part of FLI’s language development work.
This poetry promotion project is expected to enrich the literary traditions of both languages, strengthen cultural identity, and inspire participation across all age groups within the communities—contributing to the broader goal of language revival and preservation.

January 22, 2026.

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Palula Community Welfare Organization (PCWO), marking an important step in our commitment to promoting indigenous poetry. Qazi Israr, President of PCWO, signed MoU on behalf of the Palula community.

FLI previously consulted closely with both the Palula and Ormuri communities to design the Poetry Promotion Project; an MoU with the Ormuri community had already been signed, and this agreement with PCWO is the second under the initiative. Before the ceremony, FLI oriented the PCWO delegation on the project’s goals and activities, and both sides reviewed and agreed on the plan point by point.

The one‑year project will focus on promoting poetry in Ormuri and Palula languages, supporting local poets, documenting oral traditions, and building community capacity for cultural preservation.

FLI is proud to present a devotional song in the Shina language, created to celebrate the spiritual and cultural heritage of Shina-speaking communities and to inspire a new generation to reconnect with their mother tongue. This recording blends traditional melody with accessible production so young listeners can both enjoy the music and feel a renewed sense of belonging to their language and culture.

The song is offered as a small, mystical gift: a moment of reflection, a bridge between elders and youth, and a creative example of how language can live in contemporary media. It is part of FLI’s wider effort to promote mother-tongue use across social and cultural domains, and to support projects that strengthen identity, pride, and intergenerational transmission.

Why this matters

Shina is one of the many indigenous languages of northern Pakistan that carries unique histories, songs, and spiritual practices. Creative works like this devotional song help keep those traditions alive by making them relevant and shareable for younger audiences. Music is a powerful tool for language revitalization: it travels easily, invites participation, and creates emotional connections that textbooks cannot.

Watch and listen by clicking HERE

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has published another milestone in indigenous literature: Izran (Rainbow), a poetry book in the Palula language authored by Munir Ahmad Abidi.

This marks the 8th book published in the Palula language by FLI, in addition to printing support for education material in the language, a testament to its ongoing commitment to preserving and promoting indigenous voices.

Munir Ahmad Abidi, a long-time trainee of FLI, is celebrated not only as a poet but also as the first singer of the Palula language. His dedication to writing and singing in his mother tongue inspired FLI to preserve and promote his works without delay.

Through Izran, FLI aims to strengthen Palula reading and singing traditions while encouraging the growth of poetry in the language. As a gift, the book is presented to the youth of the Palula community, with the hope that they will embrace and enjoy this vibrant addition to their cultural heritage.

Join us to explore the importance of documenting and revitalizing endangered languages and learn from cutting-edge fieldwork and research as FLL organises an insightful webinar on Language Documentation and Revitalization.
Date: 07 January 2026
⏰ Time: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 481 136 511 854 21
Passcode: ow2eo6Ln

Dera Ismail Khan, KP – January 3, 2026
The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Burki Welfare Association (BWA), a community-based partner organization, to promote the poetry of the Ormuri language.

The MoU was signed by FLI’s Executive Director, Fakhruddin Akhunzada, while Arif Zaman Burki, President of BWA, represented the Ormuri language community. The ceremony was attended by members of BWA and the FLI team.

Earlier in the day, a preparatory meeting was held at a local hotel where 17 members of the Ormuri language community, all affiliated with BWA, participated. Ormuri poet Rozi Khan welcomed the FLI delegation, led by its Executive Director. Program Manager Naseem Haider outlined the objectives of the one-year project, while Mr. Akhunzada shared FLI’s targets and future ambitions.

During the session, Rozi Khan Burki introduced participants to the Ormuri alphabets. The project aims to capacitate Ormuri poets to write and read in their language, record their poetry digitally, and publish their creative works—marking a significant step toward preserving and promoting Ormuri literary heritage.

Muzaffarabad, AJK — The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) organized a Capacity Building Workshop for Gojri Language Curriculum Developers and Reviewers from December 29, 2025 to January 2, 2026. The event brought together 15 Gojri reviewers, including teachers, linguists, and educationists, to strengthen curriculum development in light of the recent inclusion of Gojri in the educational framework of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Gojri, spoken widely across northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and adjoining regions, has long been in written use. However, experts emphasized that further work is needed to standardize its orthography. Participants suggested that in future phases, representatives from Swat, Dir, Shangla, and Buner should also be included to broaden the scope of engagement.

This initiative marks a significant step toward preserving and promoting Gojri language and culture, ensuring its dignified representation in education and literature.

Peshawar, Dec 30 – The Anjuman Taraqqi Damiyan Basha in collaboration with the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) organized a seminar dedicated to the Dameli language and culture. The highlight of the program was the launch of Push Bati (Bouquet of Flowers), a poetry collection by renowned Dameli poet Muhammad Akram Khaksar, published by FLI.

The event, held at SS Club Hotel Peshawar, featured scholarly papers, dialogues, and poetry recitations. Mr. Saeed Ahmad Saeed, Secretary PMD, graced the occasion as chief guest, while Mr. Mehrban Elahi Hanfi, President of Anjuman Taraqqi Khowar (Peshawar chapter) and Assistant Director, Public Service Commission, presided over the session. Mr. Fakhruddin Akhunzada, Director of FLI, traveled from Islamabad to attend and enrich the gathering.

A large number of Dameli elders, scholars, and youth residing in Peshawar participated enthusiastically. Chairman ATD, Asmatullah Dameli, expressed gratitude to FLI staff, particularly Director Mr. Fakhruddin Khanzada, for their pivotal role in publishing the book. He emphasized that the current standing of the Dameli language owes much to FLI’s efforts and hoped for continued support.

Speaking at the seminar, the Executive Director of FLI praised Khaksar’s remarkable poetry, noting that Push Bati will play a vital role in promoting Dameli literature, preserving the language, and inspiring the younger generation to engage with Dameli literary traditions.

The program concluded with Dameli poets reciting their verses, adding beauty and depth to the gathering. Members of Anjuman Taraqqi Damiyan Basha thanked all participants for their presence and contributions, which ensured the success of the event.