ver the past few decades, languages have been disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide. Linguists estimate that 60 to 90 percent of the world’s languages may become extinct within this century, which comes to roughly one language vanishing every two weeks. This phenomenon is particularly evident in countries like Pakistan. 77 (68 indigenous and nine non-indigenous) languages are spoken in Pakistan. Many of these are at risk of extinction. According to the Ethnologue, thirteen of Pakistan’s languages are classified as threatened or lower on the Global Language Endangerment scale.

Recent census data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that 36.98 percent of the Pakistani population speaks Punjabi as their mother tongue, making it the most widely spoken language in the country, followed by Pashto. However, many observers express concern that the number of Punjabi speakers may decline in the coming decades. This trend is reflected in the decreasing percentage of Punjabi speakers over the years. In 1951, 57.08 percent of the population spoke Punjabi. This percentage decreased to 56.39 percent in 1961 and dropped further to 48.17 percent, according to the 1981 census. By 1998, Punjabi speakers represented just 44.15 percent of the population. The 2017 census noted a decline to 38.78 percent; the most recent (2023) census indicates that this figure has fallen to 36.98 percent.

The decrease in Punjabi speakers over time is attributed to several factors. Many argue that Punjabis do not associate their language with pride, emotional attachment, national identity or cultural survival. This contrasts sharply with the sentiments of other ethnic and linguistic communities, such as Pashto and Sindhi.

Additionally, Punjabi has faced challenges in gaining recognition as an academic and official language and respect as a spoken language in its homeland, the Punjab. Paradoxically, despite being one of the most developed and educated provinces in Pakistan, a significant portion of the population remains illiterate. According to a basic definition of “literacy,” an individual is considered “literate” if they can read and write in their native language, which makes this situation particularly alarming.

Furthermore, other languages, such as Pashto and Sindhi, are notably present in academic literature and written communication. In contrast, Punjabi lacks a script or alphabet that allows its speakers to express their words and sounds accurately. Consequently, even though Punjabi is considerably older than Urdu, some critics refer to it as a dialect of Urdu. It is also worth noting that Google provides its search engine in Sindhi, Pashto and Urdu but Punjabi has been excluded from this list.

Additionally, Punjabi is not taught in schools, and urban Punjabis in Pakistan have rarely made an effort to include it in the educational curriculum, often due to its perceived lower social status. As a result, many urban Punjabis have adopted Urdu at the expense of their mother tongue. Many tend to raise their children speaking Urdu and English, feeling embarrassed about using Punjabi around them. This trend is evident as many urban Punjabis have excluded their mother tongue from their homes for the past three generations.

The promotion of the Urdu language and the emphasis on Pakistani nationalism by the ruling elite have negatively impacted the Punjabi language and Punjabi nationalism. This was especially felt during the regime of Gen Zia-ul Haq, who banned three significant works advocating for Punjabi nationalism and the preservation of the Punjabi language: Hanif Ramey’s Punjab ka Muqadma (The Case of Punjab, 1985), Syed Ahmed Ferani’s Punjabi Zubaan Naheen Maray Gi (The Punjabi Language Will Not Die, 1988), and Fakhar Zaman’s Bewatna (Stateless, 1995). These actions played a crucial role in undermining the status of the Punjabi language.

Some recent developments offer hope for the Punjabi language. These include Punjabi conferences, rural Punjabis advocating for the inclusion of Punjabi in school curricula, Punjabi literary festivals and the movement on social and digital media to protect and promote the language. However, these efforts are insufficient; much more must be done. We must remain hopeful about preserving the Punjabi language in Lehnda (Pakistani) Punjab.

The writer, author of The Aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971: Enduring Impact (Routledge, 2024), has a PhD in history from Shanghai University. He is a lecturer at GCU, Faisalabad, and a research fellow at PIDE, Islamabad. He can be reached at mazharabbasgondal87@gmail.com. His X-handle is @MazharGondal87