The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has proudly announced the publication of Aruswari — meaning “tasty words” — the first-ever poetry anthology in the Kateviri language. This landmark book brings together the creative voices of nine poets from the Kateviri community, marking a significant step in the preservation and promotion of this endangered language.

The anthology is not only a literary milestone but also a cultural celebration. Special recognition goes to Abdul Nasir Mansur, whose motivation encouraged poets to contribute, and to Dr. Jakob, from Germany, who provided IPA translations of the verses.

What makes Aruswari particularly unique is its trilingual format. Alongside the original Kateviri text, the poems have been translated into Urdu and English, allowing linguists, researchers, and readers unfamiliar with the script to engage with the content.

Kateviri, a Nooristani language spoken by 4500 people in peripheral villages of the Kalash Valley, has witnessed remarkable progress in recent years. Since FLI began supporting Kateviri in 2022, local researchers led by Nasir Mansur have produced six books in just four years, all printed by FLI. Their dedication reflects a strong commitment to enriching their language with written literature.

The local researchers have planned to launch the book on July 19 in their native place, inviting the community to join them in this hour of celebration.

FLI congratulates the entire Kate community on this achievement and reaffirms its commitment to supporting their endeavors in strengthening and preserving their language.

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.