anguage is one of the oldest and most structured forms of human expression. It shapes both individual and collective identities. It is not merely a means of communication but also serves as an essential component of a people’s social, linguistic, literary, cultural and historical heritage. While language has played a historically significant role in uniting people, it has also been used as a tool to repress peoples and cultures. Linguistic identities have played a critical role in major socio-political movements across historical epochs and have been an agent of social change.

Pakistan is home to remarkable linguistic diversity, with 74 languages spoken across the country. Among these, 27 are classified as endangered languages that demand immediate scholarly and political attention. Despite the rich linguistic heritage, only six languages—Balochi, Brahui, Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi and Seraiki—are taught at the BS, MPhil and PhD levels in universities. The remaining 68 languages lack formal academic recognition. This increases the threat of extinction to these languages.

Balochi, the native language of the Baloch people, is spoken in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan and the Gulf states. The Baloch are a multilingual nation, speaking Balochi, Brahui, Sindhi, Seraiki, Persian and Dari, among other languages. In Balochistan, Balochi remains the dominant language. Linguistically, the language belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family. Scholars such as George Morgenstierne and Elfenbein trace its origins to the Caspian Sea region before 550 BCE and link it to the ancient Median language. Professor Aqil Khan Mengal also links Balochi and Kurdish to the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Balochi has three major dialects: Eastern Balochi—spoken in Sarawan, Kachhi and the Marri and Bugti regions that extend to southern Punjab and Sindh. It is also referred to as the Sulaimani dialect; Western Balochi—considered the standard dialect, is widely spoken in Panjgur, Gwadar, Kech, Turbat and some areas of the Makran division; and the Rakhshani Balochi—a dialect spoken in Nushki, Kharan, Kalat, Chagai and parts of Iran and Afghanistan.

The written Balochi emerged in the 18th Century. It uses Arabic and Persian scripts. The Balochi alphabet (28 letters) incorporate 20 core sounds including three sounds from Arabic, two from Persian and three from Hindi. Several academic institutions offer courses in Balochi language and literature, including the Department of Balochi, University of Balochistan, Quetta; Institute of Balochi Language, Literature and Culture, University of Turbat; Department of Pakistani Languages, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad; Lahore University of Management Sciences; and the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad.

Balochi Academy, Quetta, established in 1960, has published more than 500 books in Balochi, Urdu, Brahui and English on Balochi language, literature and culture. Other institutions, such as Balochistan Academy (Turbat), Izzat Academy (Panjgur), Syed Zahoor Shah Reference Library (Karachi) and Naseer Kubdani Labzanki Dewan (Kharan), are also working to preserve and advance Balochi linguistic and literary traditions.

Balochi poetry dates back to the 15th Century. Sheh Mureed, Mir Bebarg, Balach Gorgage, Jam Durak, Mullah Fazil, Rahm Ali Marri, Mast Tokali, Chagha Buzdar and Jawan Saal Bugti have contributed significantly to its literary heritage. The language has a rich tradition of romantic epics and folklore, including Hani and Sheh Mureed, Bebarg and Giranaz, Shehdad and Manaz, and Kiya Sadu and Izzat Mehrak. The modern Balochi literary movement gained momentum after 1947, focusing majorly on themes of love, resistance and national identity. Mir Gul Khan Naseer is widely regarded as the pioneer of modern Balochi poetry, Gulbang (1951) being one of the earliest published collections of poetry. Other prominent poets include Azad Jamaldini, Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi, Murad Sahir, Akbar Barakzai, Atta Shad, Bashir Bedar, Allah Bakhsh Buzdar, Manzoor Bismil, Munir Momin and Mubarak Qazi, whose poetry reflects progressive thought, resistance and Balochiyat.

Balochi prose has flourished after independence, leading to the development of short story, novel, drama, satire and essay. Significant milestones include the publication of first Balochi magazine, Oman (1951) by Khair Muhammad Nadvi; the first Balochi short story, Bewafa (The Unfaithful) by Master Hassan; Taj the first Balochi drama, Shahnaz by Murad Awarani; the first Balochi novel, Nazuk; and the first Balochi-to-Balochi dictionary, Lafz Ganj by Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi. Research plays a crucial role in strengthening a language, and Balochi has witnessed significant progress in this domain. Scholars and researchers continue to explore its linguistic evolution, dialectical variations and literary traditions.

Balochi language has made remarkable progress in the digital era. It has recently been incorporated in Google Translate and various digital dictionaries, and linguistic research projects are under way. The Balochi Academy and some other institutions are digitalising Balochi literature, ensuring its accessibility and preservation for future generations.

The Baloch people deeply cherish their language, history and literature. With its growing academic presence, expansion into digital platforms and the dedicated efforts of scholars and institutions, Balochi is on a steady path of progress. The integration of Balochi into educational curricula, digital tools and literary discourse are paving the way for a vibrant future, ensuring that the language remains an evolving and integral part of the region’s linguistic and cultural identity.

The writer is an assistant professor in the Department of Pakistani Languages at AIOU, Islamabad. His areas of specialisation are language literature and culture