Gilgit, June 18 — The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) brought together its regional partners from Gilgit-Baltistan in Gilgit City for a strategic networking meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration for language and cultural preservation.

Representatives from six language communities—Shina, Balti, Burushaski, Khowar, Wakhi, and Domaaki—participated in the session. The gathering also included government and academic stakeholders: Mr. Abdul Saboor represented the Gilgit-Baltistan Government, Dr. Kaneez Fatima from Karakoram International University, and Dr. Issa, Head of the English Department at the University of Baltistan, who delivered the keynote address.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the objectives of their previous networking session and developed new plans for community-level and institutional engagement. Each partner shared updates on last year’s advocacy efforts, while Mr. Saboor guided them on approaching institutions for funding and support.

FLI facilitated the event to strengthen ties not only among language communities but also with academia and government bodies. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to supporting community representatives in advocacy at both regional and federal levels, while encouraging them to activate their networks for the cause of languages and cultures.

This was the second regional meeting of FLI’s network in Gilgit-Baltistan. Earlier this year, many of the same partners had participated in a national-level gathering. In the next session, today’s participants will present on the implementation of the plans developed in Gilgit.

FLI organized a three‑day workshop for Ormuri poets in Dera Ismail Khan from May 18 to 20, enabling them to create content and write in their own language. Ormuri, spoken in Kaniguram, South Waziristan, by around 6,000 people, has been part of FLI’s language development work for many years.

Building on earlier literacy and community engagement initiatives, FLI has now expanded its one‑year Poetry Promotion Project to Ormuri to strengthen Ormuri poets’ digital capacity for creative documentation.

The first activity under this project introduced poets to a wide range of skills:

• Language & Technology – exploring linguistic work with digital tools
• Creative Documentation Basics – techniques for preserving cultural content
• Social Media Creation & Use – practical guidance for online presence
• Video Editing – hands‑on training with accessible tools
• Applied Practice – direct engagement with editing software and platforms

A total of seven Ormuri poets participated in this workshop, which combined linguistic standardization with practical training in modern technology. The program was designed to enhance their creative development and digital skills, ensuring that Ormuri poetry continues to thrive in both traditional and digital spaces.

Since many Ormuri speakers live outside their native region, further interventions will be needed to engage more poets from the community. FLI has planned to involve the maximum number of oral artists, with additional activities scheduled in the coming days.

FLI’s three-day training workshop for government school teachers on Saraiki subject teaching successfully concluded in Dera Ismail Khan. The closing ceremony was marked by the distribution of certificates to both participants and trainers, who themselves are government school teachers. Representative from the Directorate of Professional Development, Mr. Muneerr Ali Shah distributed certificates.

The event took place at Mufti Mahmood School and College, a semi-government institution in D.I. Khan, in collaboration with the Directorate of Professional Development, Peshawar — a wing of the provincial education ministry. The workshop aimed to strengthen teachers’ capacity, particularly in mother tongue education.

The school’s principal, representatives of district education officers, and other dignitaries attended the event. Speakers on the occasion commended FLI’s efforts in enabling government school teachers to teach in their mother tongue. FLI’s Program Manager, Naseem Haider, announced that another training workshop is planned for the last quarter of the year to reach more teachers. He praised the participants for their attentive engagement and expressed gratitude to the local administration for their cooperation.

Saraiki is one of the four regional languages included in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s school curriculum. However, the lack of teacher training has slowed the implementation of this policy. FLI has stepped in to bridge this gap by equipping teachers with the skills needed to teach effectively in their mother tongue.

A total of 50 teachers — half of them women — participated in this workshop. The same number of teachers, with equal female representation, were trained in the last quarter of last year, and another 50 teachers are scheduled for training later this year.

This initiative marks another important step toward empowering educators and preserving regional languages through quality teaching. By strengthening teacher capacity, FLI continues to contribute to the promotion of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage in Pakistan’s education system.

 

Islamabad, April 8, 2026 — The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) brought together its partners for a one-day summit in Islamabad, where 27 representatives from 16 language communities across northern Pakistan and the federal capital gathered to review last year’s achievements and chart the course for 2026.

Leadership and Vision

The summit was chaired by Rozi Khan Burki, Chairman of FLI’s Executive Board, who emphasized that language researchers are now empowered to lead development efforts thanks to FLI’s sustained support. Fakhruddin Akhunzada, FLI’s Executive Director, welcomed participants who braved the rainy weather to ensure full participation.

Keynote and Guest Addresses

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Muhammad Kamal, Head of English at Allama Iqbal Open University and FLI board member, who highlighted the importance of strengthening multilingualism, diversity, and language preservation.
For the first time, Munawar from the Indus Cultural Forum (ICF) joined the summit, praising FLI’s role in promoting cultural diversity and pledging continued collaboration. A guest from UNESCO’s Esperanto language program also introduced participants to this artificial language, sparking dialogue on global linguistic innovation. Assistant Registrar Open University, Ms. Bibi Yasmin also graced with her presence.

Partner Presentations

In the second session, partners delivered 13 presentations showcasing progress since last year’s meeting. They shared insights on:

• Using social media to engage youth in language work
• The role of poetry in language revival
• Advocacy strategies to mobilize communities
• How local leadership can influence language preservation efforts

Outcomes and Commitments

The summit concluded with a collective pledge to:

• Work jointly on heritage language preservation
• Ensure gender-balanced approaches
• Continue sharing knowledge and strategies in the days ahead

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.

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