Islamabad, Dec 24: A significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) to protect endangered languages in Pakistan. The MoU was formalized by Raja Umar Yunus, the Registrar of AIOU, and Fakhruddin Akhunzada, Executive Director of FLI. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz Sahir, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at AIOU.
Professor Dr. Sahir emphasized the urgent need for practical actions to preserve endangered languages in Pakistan. He stated that the partnership would foster research, educational services, and training programs for both teachers and students, benefiting multiple university departments, especially the English Department.
Fakhruddin Akhunzada, Executive Director of FLI, highlighted the growing interest among students to enhance their professional skills, noting that the collaboration would involve joint research projects, training workshops, seminars, and conferences aimed at furthering the goals of the initiative.
Dr. Muhammad Kamal Khan, Chairman of the English Department at AIOU, provided insights into the MoU’s objectives and future plans. The ceremony also saw participation from Professor Dr. Abdullah Jan Abid, Chairman of the Department of Pakistani Languages at AIOU, along with other key officials.
