National Language Promotion Department

{{Infobox company | name = National Language Authority | logo = Muqtadra.jpg | type = Attached Department | genre = | foundation = 1979 | founder = | location_city = Islamabad | location_country = Pakistan | location = | key_people = | area_served = Standardisation and promotion of Urdu | industry = | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = 6 | subsid = | owner = | homepage = [website | dissolved = | footnotes = }}

The National Language Promotion Department , previously known as the National Language Authority (or Urdu Language Authority), is an autonomous regulatory institution established in 1979 to foster the advancement and promotion of Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. Its status has since changed to that of an attached department.

Initially, the department aimed to create synergy between national and provincial governments and institutions for the use of Urdu. Over time, its scope expanded to encompass standardisation and linguistic matters, including orthography and lexicography. The department also provides recommendations to enhance the use of Urdu across various sectors. As part of these efforts, significant amounts of legal and scientific documents are translated from English and other languages into Urdu for publication. These initiatives have contributed to a greater awareness of the language's potential and its localization within the society.

Recently, the organisation underwent a name change from the National Language Authority to the National Language Promotion Department and is now affiliated with the Ministry of National Heritage & Integration. Dr. Anwaar Ahmad, a renowned short-story writer and educationist, served as the last Chairman of the NLA before the position was redefined as Director General (D.G.).

Objectives

The National Language Promotion Department aims to facilitate the use and adoption of the Urdu language by providing publications and other reading materials for individuals and organizations. It fosters linkages for cooperation and collaboration among various academic, research, and educational institutions to promote the use of Urdu and the native languages of the country.

Over the years, efforts have been made to establish Urdu as an official and business language, as well as a medium of instruction and expression within the country. Additionally, the department encourages the development of Urdu software at various levels to differentiate it further from Hindi. These initiatives are designed to enhance the presence and functionality of Urdu in both formal and informal contexts, thereby strengthening its role in society.

Organisations

The organization is structured into six divisions:

• Dictionary Division (Darul Lughaat)
• Translation Division (Darul Tarjuma)
• Literature Division (Darul Tasneef)
• Publications Division (Darul Isha’at).

Additionally, there is a department focused on 'Urdu Informatics (اردو اطلاعیات), which conducts research to develop appropriate hardware and software for using the language in electronic media. The organisation also has a dedicated library that offers a wide range of resources on Urdu and regularly publishes Urdu Bulletins.

Read also

• National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
• Urdu literature
• Urdu keyboard
• Urdu Informatics
• Urdu alphabet