Islamabad celebrates Uzbek Language Day

A cultural and educational event dedicated to October 21 – Uzbek Language Day – was held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan.

The event was attended by compatriots and their children, representatives of Pakistan’s expert and analytical community, faculty members of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad, and media representatives.

In his address, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtaev spoke in detail about the role and importance of the Uzbek language in the life of the state and society, as well as the wide-ranging reforms being implemented to further develop it.

He emphasized that the Uzbek language is an invaluable treasure embodying the centuries-old history, spiritual heritage, national identity, and cultural values of the Uzbek people. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing the status of the state language, strengthening its standing internationally, and educating younger generations in a spirit of respect for their mother tongue.

“Under the leadership of our President, great attention is being paid to strengthening the status of the Uzbek language and promoting it internationally. Numerous initiatives have been implemented to develop education in Uzbek, preserve the linguistic heritage, and create favorable conditions to support creative professionals,” Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev said.

“Efforts are also underway to support the study of Uzbek abroad, including in Pakistan. Special textbooks and teaching materials are being developed, new dictionaries are being published, and various modern IT applications are being created. This year, Uzbek and Pakistani linguists and translators published the Dictionary of Common Words in Uzbek and Urdu. In addition, famous works by prominent Uzbek writers have been translated into Urdu and published as separate books.

“Furthermore, the Department of Uzbek Language is operating at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, while work is ongoing to establish a Center for Uzbek Language and Literature at Bahria University.”

Sania Iskanova, a lecturer at the Department of Uzbek Language at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, also shared her views on the influence of the Uzbek language on the development of regional culture and literature.

“Taking part in this event fills me with pride in our country’s glorious history and in the important role played by the Uzbek language. All Uzbek language teachers are grateful for the high level of attention that our country’s leadership has devoted to the Uzbek language in recent years. The developments taking place in today’s modern world place important responsibilities on all of us, including properly nurturing the nation’s future and instilling national values in the younger generation. Our mother tongue serves as a powerful instrument in fulfilling these responsibilities,” she said.

In her remarks, Mahfuza Hasanova, a lecturer at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, stressed that the mother tongue is a key factor in shaping a person’s national identity and spiritual roots. She underscored the importance of speaking Uzbek, preserving national traditions, and teaching the language to children, even when living abroad.

She also noted that efforts to raise the status of the Uzbek language were already yielding positive results.

“Interest in learning the Uzbek language and exploring our national culture is growing among foreigners, particularly young people in Pakistan. This not only fills us with pride but also places a great responsibility on us to shape a positive image of our homeland and fully convey the beauty and richness of our language to international audiences,” Mahfuza Hasanova said.

The event served to promote a broader understanding of the role and importance of the Uzbek language in society, strengthen the sense of national identity among compatriots living abroad, and showcase Uzbekistan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage to the international community.