Languages of Pakistan

English is the official language of Pakistan. Urdu is the national language. It is also known as Lashkari Zaban or just Lashkari.^[1] It is believed to have started in Up with Luknow as its capital during Ghaznavid rule.^[2]

Provincial languages

There are also provincial languages, Balochi language, Pashto, Sindhi and Punjabi, and one semi-provincial language Koshur (Kashmiri language).

Background

Pakistan is heir to one of the most ancient civilizations in the world along with Iraq and Egypt. They also had ancient indigenous languages before being replaced by their present-day languages, which are of Indo-Iranic origin. These languages have not been used in the domains of power because the rulers of these regions were generally foreigners. But the foreigners, whether the Persians, ancient Greeks, Arabs, Turco-Mongols as well as the British, have all influenced the indigenous languages so that their vocabulary is multilingual and varied. As the people of these areas converted to Islam, Arabic and Persian words influenced and became part of their identity, and remain so. In a sense, it is their very presence, as well as the Arabic-based scripts of all 75 Pakistani languages, which gave them a cultural unity.

Linguistics

Linguistically, Pakistan is almost entirely Indo-Iranic as its languages belong to the Indo-Iranic family of languages. Its scripture and vocabulary owe very much so to Arabic and based on Farsi (which also derived its own script from Arabic).

For example; the national anthem is a highly Persianized form of Urdu.

Other languages

Lashkari Zaban calligraphy

Other languages include Burushaski, Balti, Domaaki, Gawar-bati, Erina, Wakhi, Shina and Brahvi.