The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) successfully concluded its Writers’ Workshop for Government School Teachers of Upper Chitral in Booni. Over the course of the three‑day training, 50 teachers — half of them women — strengthened their skills in Khowar orthography, classroom pedagogy, and practical writing techniques. The workshop directly supported the provincial Mother Languages in Education policy.

FLI, a non‑profit organization dedicated to promoting language, culture, and inclusive education, has long championed the integration of mother tongues into formal education. The organization expressed particular happiness at the strong participation of women teachers, noting their vital role in advancing mother‑tongue education and inspiring future generations.

The closing session celebrated the teachers’ commitment to promoting linguistic heritage in schools. Certificates of participation were distributed among all attendees, recognizing their active engagement and contributions throughout the workshop.

Participants shared positive feedback, expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to learn writing principles in their own language. They highlighted how the training boosted their confidence and expressed excitement to pass on these skills to their students, ensuring that children can connect more deeply with their cultural and linguistic identity.

This initiative reaffirmed FLI’s dedication to empowering educators and preserving linguistic heritage through practical, classroom‑based language development.

Custom Redesign and Rebuild of the Official FLI Website (FLI-ONLINE.ORG)

Introduction

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting language, culture, and inclusive communication. A recent comprehensive review of FLI’s current website identified six core improvement areas:

  1. Navigation and search
  2. Mobile experience
  3. Page speed
  4. SEO structure
  5. Content publishing
  6. Visual design

Most of these challenges are structural, rooted in the site’s underlying architecture and systems rather than its surface appearance. Consequently, FLI seeks a custom-built website—not a re-skin of the existing site or a standard off-the-shelf theme.

The new platform must be tailored to FLI’s key audiences (funders and donors, language communities, researchers, educators, and partners). It must be fast, mobile-first, highly discoverable on search engines, and easily manageable by FLI staff.

FLI invites qualified and experienced vendors, preferably based in Islamabad, to submit comprehensive quotations for this project.

Project Objectives

  • Structural Resolution: Resolve existing architectural issues through a custom WordPress build.
  • Information Architecture: Rebuild site navigation so publications, events, and language resources are intuitive and easy to find.
  • Mobile Optimization: Deliver a high-performance, mobile-first website optimized for phones and slower network connections.
  • SEO Excellence: Establish an SEO-optimized structure to maximize discoverability on Google.
  • Independent Content Management: Empower FLI staff to publish and update content seamlessly without technical assistance.
  • Modern Branding: Present a modern, credible design reflecting FLI’s professional standing and non-profit mission.
  • Audience Engagement: Retain and grow FLI’s subscriber base through integrated email communication tools.

Scope of Work1. Discovery & Planning

  • Comprehensive audit of existing website structure, content, and performance (including a Google PageSpeed Insights baseline).
  • Stakeholder consultations with FLI staff.
  • Audience mapping for key user groups.
  • Development of a new sitemap, content hierarchy, and content-type model.

Information Architecture & Search

  • Restructured navigation featuring consistent menus across all pages.
  • Custom post/content types for Publications, Events, Resources, and News.
  • Advanced filtered search capabilities (by type, topic, language, year, author, etc.).
  • Clear user journeys and pathways for new visitors.

UI/UX Design

  • Custom UI/UX design aligned strictly with FLI branding guidelines (pre-built or premium themes are excluded).
  • HTML Design Concepts: Development of at least 3 distinct design concepts delivered as responsive, clickable HTML mockups (viewable on desktop and mobile), covering at minimum:
    • The Homepage
    • A Publications/Resources listing page
    • A single Publication page
  • FLI review and selection of one preferred design direction.
  • Refinement of the selected concept through up to 2 rounds of revisions, extended across all remaining page types.
  • Formal sign-off and design approval prior to development.
  • A reusable design system and block patterns applied consistently.

Development

  • Custom WordPress theme built from scratch (mobile-first approach) based on approved HTML mockups.
  • Template development and rigorous testing across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
  • Lean plugin architecture utilizing only essential, well-maintained plugins (vendors must list all proposed plugins and associated license costs).
  • Cross-browser compatibility assurance (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).

Performance

  • Advanced caching, image compression, and asset optimization.
  • Target Google PageSpeed Insights mobile score of 85+ and passing Core Web Vitals on key templates.
  • Professional hosting recommendations and configuration tailored for performance and security.

SEO Structure

  • SEO-friendly site architecture with clean URL structures and strategic internal linking.
  • Planned headings, title tags, and meta descriptions across all pages.
  • Comprehensive schema (structured data) markup implementation (including for publications).
  • XML sitemap generation, SEO plugin configuration, and Google Search Console setup.
  • 301 redirect mapping from legacy URLs to preserve existing search equity.

Content Publishing & Management

  • Editor-friendly CMS configuration with modular, reusable page layouts.
  • Migration of existing digital assets (pages, publications, posts, and media libraries).
  • Integration of Google Analytics 4 for visitor and content-usage insights.

Features & Functionality

  • Fully functional pages, menus, and internal/external links.
  • Integrated advanced search functionality.
  • Dedicated blog/news section.
  • Resource repository supporting research papers and downloadable publications.
  • Events management section.
  • Social media integration.
  • Secure contact and engagement forms featuring robust spam protection.

Subscriber & Communication Features

  • Secure migration of existing subscriber lists from the current platform.
  • Integration with a professional email marketing system (e.g., Mailchimp or equivalent).
  • Automated email notifications for new publications, events, and announcements.
  • Streamlined user subscription and subscription workflows.

Security & Accessibility

  • SSL installation, website hardening, and automated backup schedules.
  • Alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards where feasible.

Training & Support

  • Hands-on CMS administration training for FLI staff.
  • Delivery of a user manual and technical documentation.
  • Post-launch support and maintenance (to be quoted separately).

Key Deliverables

  • Website audit report including baseline PageSpeed metrics.
  • Comprehensive sitemap and content-type model.
  • 3 responsive HTML design concepts for review.
  • Finalized, FLI-approved HTML mockups for key page types.
  • Fully functional, custom-built WordPress website deployed to production.
  • Successfully migrated content and subscriber database.
  • Post-launch performance audit report.
  • CMS administrative access, training sessions, and documentation.
  • Go-live and deployment support.

Vendor Eligibility Criteria

Submitting vendors must demonstrate:

  • Official business registration, with a strong preference for agencies maintaining an active office in Islamabad.
  • Proven track record in restructuring content-heavy or research-oriented websites (preferably for non-profit, educational, or public-sector clients).
  • Demonstrated in-house expertise spanning UI/UX design, custom WordPress engineering, and technical SEO.
  • A portfolio showcasing at least 3 relevant custom-built (non-theme-based) web projects.
  • Verifiable client references from comparable past projects.

Submission Requirements

Interested vendors are required to submit:

  1. Company Profile: Overview of the agency, team size, and core competencies.
  2. Technical Proposal: Detailed approach and methodology explaining how the vendor plans to address each of the six identified problem areas (navigation/search, mobile experience, page speed, SEO structure, content publishing, and visual design).
  3. Proposed Toolstack: Complete list of recommended plugins and tools, including any associated licensing costs.
  4. Project Timeline: Detailed milestone schedule highlighting the HTML design concept phase, client review windows, revision cycles, and development milestones.
  5. Financial Quotation: Granular, phase-wise cost breakdown (with post-launch support priced separately).
  6. Client References: Contact details and summaries for 2–3 recent relevant projects.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

  • Technical Approach & Understanding of Requirements: 40%
  • Relevant Experience & Quality of Past Work: 30%
  • Team Expertise & Qualifications: 15%
  • Cost-Effectiveness & Value: 15%

Note: Proposals relying on pre-built or premium themes without bespoke custom development will be deemed non-responsive and disqualified.

Timeline & Submission Details

  • RFQ Re-issue Date: September 25, 2026
  • Submission Deadline: October 04, 2026
  • Submission Email: finance@fli-online.org
  • Email Subject Line: RFQ Submission – Website Redesign (FLI)

Additional Information

  • This document supersedes the RFQ originally issued on September 9, 2026. Vendors who submitted responses under the previous call are requested to resubmit in accordance with this updated scope.
  • FLI reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, or cancel the solicitation process at any time, without incurring any liability or obligation.
  • Incomplete submissions or those lacking required documentation may be excluded from evaluation.
  • Shortlisted vendors may be invited to deliver a formal presentation or interview.

 

Booni, Upper Chitral — September 23, 2026: The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has launched a Writers’ Workshop for Government School Teachers of Upper Chitral in Booni, marking another milestone in its ongoing efforts to strengthen mother‑tongue education in the region.

Building on earlier training sessions for Khowar subject teaching, organized in collaboration with the Directorate of Professional Development, this workshop is designed to equip teachers with the skills to read and write in Khowar with accuracy and confidence. By enhancing teachers’ proficiency, FLI aims to ensure that students in government schools can learn in their mother tongue, fostering both educational quality and cultural preservation.

Around 50 teachers — half of them women — are participating in the workshop. Their involvement reflects the growing recognition of the importance of mother‑tongue education and the role of teachers in carrying forward linguistic heritage.

Speaking at the opening session, FLI representatives emphasized that the initiative directly supports the provincial government’s Mother Languages in Education policy. They noted that empowering teachers with practical writing and reading skills in Khowar will have a lasting impact on classroom learning and community identity.

The Writers’ Workshop is part of FLI’s broader advocacy and capacity‑building strategy, which seeks to integrate local languages into formal education while promoting inclusivity and cultural pride.

Madaklasht, Chitral — September 06-08, 2026

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI), in collaboration with its community partner Hunarmandan ہنرمندان, has successfully concluded the second phase of writers’ training in Madaklasht, Lower Chitral.

This workshop follows the landmark Orthography Workshop held earlier (June 8–12, 2026), marking another milestone in FLI’s ongoing efforts to develop the Madaklashti variety of Persian into a literate language. Over three days, participants engaged in intensive sessions on writing principles, laying the groundwork for a functional writing system.

A total of 15 participants, including writers, teachers and students, seven of them were women, attended all sessions. FLI especially commends the active participation of women, whose keen interest reflects the community’s growing commitment to language development.

Madaklashti, spoken in the upper villages of Shishkuh Valley in Lower Chitral, was recently taken up by FLI as part of its mission to preserve and strengthen linguistic heritage. With continued training and support, the language is expected to gain a functional writing system, opening doors to literature development and cultural preservation.

FLI has reaffirmed its commitment to stand by the community until Madaklashti Persian becomes a fully literate language. The organization hopes that local researchers will apply their learning to safeguard and enrich their heritage for generations to come.

Kanigram, South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

With the financial support of FLI and in collaboration with Pir Roshan Literary Tolana, Kanigram, a literary body in the area, a vibrant literary session and the successful Ormuri Mushaira were organized in Kanigram, South Waziristan. The event highlighted the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the region, bringing together poets, elders, and community members in a celebration of language and literature.

The gathering was graced by distinguished guests including Mr. Rozi Khan, Retired Colonel Elahi Jan Burki, and other elders of the area. Their presence added dignity and encouragement to the occasion. Twelve renowned poets of the Ormuri language presented their thought‑provoking and inspiring poetry, captivating an audience of more than 300 participants who attended with great enthusiasm.

This was a unique gathering of poets who presented their work in front of their own people and in their own place. The Ormuri language speakers, due to security challenges in the area, often live scattered across different urban centers. Bringing poets back to their native place was therefore more than a success for FLI, as it strengthened the language and community bonds. FLI initiated the task of promoting Ormuri poetry six months ago, and this effort will continue until the end of the current year, with the hope of further enhancing literary activities in the community.

The Mushaira not only showcased the creative brilliance of Ormuri poets but also served as a platform to revive interest in indigenous languages. The lively participation of the audience reflected the growing appreciation for cultural events that preserve oral traditions and promote literary expression.

At the conclusion of the program, special awards and shields were distributed among all participating poets. This gesture recognized their outstanding contributions to the promotion of Ormuri language and literature, and encouraged further creative endeavors.

 

FLI supported its partner organization, the Kalkoti Community Welfare Organization (KCWO), in hosting the event “Kalkoti Poetry & Student Speeches 2026” last weekend in Kalkot, Upper Dir.

The program celebrated the Kalkoti language, local culture, and literary talent, while giving Kohistani youth a platform to express themselves.

Program Highlights
Student Speeches: Schoolchildren delivered speeches in their mother tongue on themes such as “My Kohistan” and “The Role of Education”. Their confidence and passion were warmly applauded.

Mushaira Session: Renowned and emerging poets recited verses on Kohistan, nature, peace, and sacrifice, receiving enthusiastic responses from the audience.

Scholarly Reflections: Religious scholars emphasized the role of literature (adab) in society, noting that poetry and speech are powerful tools for building positive communities.

Chief Guest & Closing
The ceremony was presided over by community notable Mr. Sharafud Din, who praised KCWO and FLI for their initiative. He remarked:
“Such literary events are the need of the hour to keep our new generation connected to their roots.”

Impact & Future
The Kalkoti Mushaira marked a successful step toward reviving literary traditions and strengthening cultural identity. KCWO reaffirmed its commitment to organizing more constructive and inspiring programs for the people of Kalkot.

The Kalkoti language, spoken by around 15,000 people in Dir Upper, has recently entered the literary domain. Community researchers and activists are vigorously promoting it. Last year, FLI implemented its first poetry promotion project in Kalkoti, sparking a tradition of poetic expression.

FLI appreciates the dedication of Kalkoti poets, researchers, and activists, and looks forward to seeing the language rise among the developed tongues of the region.

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) supported its partner organization, the Palula Community Welfare Organization (PCWO), in organizing a vibrant poetry gathering in Biori village of Lower Chitral on July 18.
The event brought together dozens of community members, including youth and elders, with more than a dozen poets expressing themselves in their native Palula language. FLI has long been committed to strengthening indigenous languages of the region by promoting oral arts such as poetry and singing, which resonate strongly with younger generations.
This gathering was part of FLI’s flagship Poetry Promotion Project, currently being implemented in Palula and Ormuri communities. In addition, FLI continues to support poetry in other languages through its Community-Led Cultural Event initiative, empowering local partners to revive and sustain poetic traditions.
The event was graced by the presence of German linguist Dr. Jakob, who is conducting research on Kateviri, an indigenous language spoken in the Kalash valleys of Chitral. FLI’s Executive Director also attended, underscoring the organization’s dedication to nurturing linguistic diversity.
Palula, spoken in southern Chitral, is among the literate languages of the region. Since poetry traditions took time to develop in the community, FLI has worked to accelerate their growth, ensuring that all domains of the language are utilized to strengthen its vitality.

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.

The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) has released its latest (Apr-May-Jun) quarterly report, showcasing the progress in language development and capacity-building efforts across north Pakistan.

Teacher Training in Saraiki

A major milestone this quarter was the successful training of 50 schoolteachers from Dera Ismail Khan in Saraiki language teaching. This initiative strengthens mother-tongue education and equips educators with practical tools to promote linguistic diversity in classrooms.

 National and Regional Partners Meeting

FLI convened its national and regional partners meeting, bringing together stakeholders from across the country. The gathering provided a platform to review ongoing projects, share best practices, and align strategies for advancing language development at both community and institutional levels.

 Madaklashti Language Development

Another highlight of the quarter is FLI’s commitment to the Madaklashti language, a unique and historically rich tongue spoken in Chitral. Efforts are underway to document, preserve, and promote Madaklashti, ensuring its vitality for future generations.

Read the full quarterly report HERE

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.