Dera Ismail Khan, May 13, 2025 – A three-day capacity-building workshop has commenced for 60 government primary school teachers in Dera Ismail Khan, focusing on Saraiki subject teaching. Organized by FLI in collaboration with the Department of Professional Development (DPD), Peshawar, this initiative aims to enhance teachers’ skills in delivering mother tongue-based education.

Among the participants, 25 female teachers will receive specialized training from female trainers, ensuring inclusivity and tailored instruction. The workshop is facilitated by eight experienced trainers, all of whom were previously trained by FLI.

The training program underscores the importance of linguistic ownership, encouraging Saraiki-speaking students, parents, and teachers to recognize their language as a valuable academic and cultural asset.

Introduced into the KP curriculum in 2016, Saraiki was included as a subject alongside Pashto, Khowar, and Hindko. However, a lack of specialized teacher training remained a significant barrier to effective language instruction. FLI stepped in to bridge this gap, beginning with training Khowar-speaking teachers in Upper Chitral, and now expanding its efforts to support all languages included in the curriculum.

This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening mother tongue education, ensuring sustainable language preservation and accessibility within government schools.

FLI is proud to announce the release of Torwali Grammar and Typology, authored by Dr. Wayne A. Lunsford. This publication represents the eighth book in the Torwali language published by FLI.

The book offers a structured overview of Torwali, a Dardic language spoken by approximately 140,000 people originating from the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Also known as Torwalak or Torwalik, this language holds immense cultural and linguistic significance.

We are delighted that extensively researched works by foreign linguists continue to advance the understanding and preservation of indigenous languages. Dr. Wayne’s dedicated focus on the Torwali language has resulted in yet another profound research publication. This book is to become an invaluable resource for both local and international researchers who wish to explore this unique language.

Our congratulations go to the local Torwali researchers, for whom this work not only provides deep insights into their language but also enriches their understanding of their native heritage.

At FLI, we remain committed to supporting publications in lesser-known regional languages. Torwali is one of the many languages we are dedicated to strengthening through literature development and research. With this being the eighth book we have published about the language, we reaffirm our pledge to foster the continued growth of indigenous literature.

Professor Henrik Liljegren’s contributions to linguistic preservation in Pakistan have been widely recognized as scholars and language advocates call for him to be honored with Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. This demand was voiced by Dr. Kamal, Head of the English Department at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), during the closing ceremony of a week-long linguistic workshop focused on Pakistan’s undocumented and under-documented languages. The audience expressed their agreement with enthusiastic applause, acknowledging Dr. Henrik’s dedication to preserving Pakistan’s linguistic heritage.

The five-day workshop, coorganized by the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) and AIOU, brought together nearly 40 participants, including PhD scholars, university faculty members, and representatives from indigenous language communities. A total of 16 languages were represented, highlighting the rich linguistic diversity of Pakistan. The event also showcased the active participation of women, who constituted one-quarter of the attendees, furthering inclusivity in the initiative.

Renowned linguist Professor Henrik Liljegren, Head of the Department of Linguistics at Stockholm University, Sweden, led the sessions covering language documentation methodologies, typology, linguistic variation, and classification. His expertise allowed participants to refine their skills in analyzing and preserving endangered languages, many of which face increasing threats due to institutional neglect and limited resources.

Participants engaged in practical exercises using databases, literature, and specialized linguistic software, ensuring that they are equipped with essential tools for further research and documentation efforts. The workshop emphasized the significance of collaboration between universities, local communities, and linguistic experts in safeguarding Pakistan’s diverse languages.

Dr. Kamal’s call for national recognition of Professor Henrik’s contributions resonated strongly with attendees, who praised both FLI and the workshop facilitator for empowering them with new skills and perspectives on Pakistan’s linguistic landscape.

The collaboration between FLI and AIOU reflects a long-term commitment to language documentation, with aspirations to extend preservation efforts beyond northern Pakistan. As the workshop concludes, participants carry forward renewed motivation and concrete strategies to further linguistic research and advocacy, ensuring that undocumented and under-documented languages receive the attention and preservation they deserve.

We are glad to share another achievement in our journey of preserving indigenous languages. FLI has published its fourth book this year, dedicated to one of our highly vulnerable target languages, Gawarbati.

This publication is a heartfelt tribute to the late Abdul Manan Gohar, a poet whose creative legacy lives on through his timeless verses. Thanks to Abdullah, a FLI trainee from the Gawarbati language group, this treasure of poetry was collected and shared for publication. Together, we ensured that his artistic voice continues to resonate across generations.

Gawarbati, spoken in the challenging, law-and-order-strained regions of northern Pakistan and across the border with Afghanistan, faces the threat of extinction. FLI has been working tirelessly for over a decade to strengthen and revitalize this endangered language. With this latest publication, we celebrate a total of eight books that preserve the cultural and literary heritage of Gawarbati.

This newest addition—a poetry collection—aims to inspire the youth of the Gawarbati-speaking community to embrace and cherish their literary heritage. We extend our congratulations to the Gawarbati speakers on this achievement and remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering the development of literature in the indigenous languages of northern Pakistan.

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain hopeful that more researchers, writers, and poets from the Gawarbati community will join us in creating and preserving their literature. Together, we will ensure that the narratives and artistic expressions of Gawarbati continue to thrive.