Academic literature on the topic 'Siraiki and Urdu'

Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Siraiki, and Baluchi are Pakistan's main languages. Although Urdu is the national language, English is still spoken in significant areas like higher bureaucracy and the armed forces officer corps, a remnant of British colonialism. This manuscript examines Pakistan's language medium dispute regarding English-only schooling for the privileged before partition. An English-educated Anglicized elite was expected to maintain British rule in their own interests, strengthening the empire. Thus, most provinces taught the masses in Urdu, save Sind, where Sindhi was used. This method produced a cost-effective subordinate workforce. In modern Pakistan, the elite attend exclusive English-medium schools, whereas most other schools, especially in metropolitan Sind, have a large Urdu population and teach in Urdu. The indigenously educated proto-elite, mostly Urdu-trained, opposes this duality and wants Urdu as the medium of education. Their argument is that such a transition will help them rise in power, countering the current preference for English education.

Dr. A.B. Ashraf is a well-known and well-grounded researcher of Urdu literature. He is an authentic critic, fiction writer, travel writer and educationist. B. Ashraf's pen sketches are outstanding. The main reason for its popularity is pen sketches of ancient and modern poets, scholars and writers. By his pen portraits, B. Ashraf gave new breaths to the ancient civilization, culture of Multan, both classical and modern poets. His readers are privileged to know the history of Multan by his pen portraits. Humorous incidents, ironic statements and exquisite dialogues make them captivating. “Kesy Kesy Log” is the masterpiece of Dr.A.B. Ashraf. The depiction of writers, the magnificent combination of Siraiki and Urdu phrases, dance, ecstasy, charm of literary gatherings, alluring imagery, elegant style and poetic episodes enhance its excellence. This magnum opus is of great importance in preserving the name of Dr. AB Ashraf alive and exuberant in the tradition of Urdu pen sketching.

English as a medium of instruction and communication is becoming a central pedagogy in various countries in the world. In Pakistan, most of the advanced academic institutions use English as their medium of instruction, however students and teachers have been observed communicating in their first languages, especially Urdu, in the classrooms. This study was conducted at the Institute of Communication and Cultural Studies, University of Management and Technology, to examine the factors that limit students and teachers from communicating in English. Qualitative research methods were employed to find the factors affecting the use of English in English-only classrooms. A total of 130 participants were included in this study. Among them, 68 participants were engaged in student questionnaires. The participants were students of four native languages (Urdu, Punjabi, Siraiki and Pushto) with different level of English language proficiency. Required literature search was performed using key databases and journals, related to applied linguistics, English language and education. Our results demonstrated that most of the students like to communicate in English and be a part of the English-only environment, however they acknowledged some key factors that prevented them from speaking English in the classrooms. Fundamental factors included linguistics, individual, social, psychological and institutional which were largely based upon their beliefs, assumptions, needs and desires. This study may provide insights to the policymakers to work on issues related to communications and medium of instructions in Pakistan. It may also help teachers and educators to understand the underlying factors that compel students to speak their first languages instead of English.

Lung cancer is a third leading cancer in Pakistan with high mortality rate. To determine incidences in the population of Karachi, Pakistan, a retrospective study in different ethnic group was conducted from January 2011 to December 2015 to determine incidences of lung cancer in last five years registered in oncology wards of major hospitals of Karachi. Registered patients of lung cancer with confirmed diagnosis cytologically and/or histologically was included in the study. Secondary data from retrospective patient’s charts and files have been gathered. Most of the cases were from city of Karachi, Interior Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Minimum sample size of study was 147, however, evaluation was done on 169 patients. In addition to type of cancer, ethnicity, gender and age were also recorded. SPSS 20 software was employed for analysis including mean age, standard deviation, standard error and co-efficient of variation. Number of cases and incidences of lung cancer in different ethnic groups were found to be; Sindhi male 51 (38%), Sindhi female 12 (34%), Urdu speaking male 32(24%), Urdu speaking female 09 (26%), Balochi male 10 (07%), Balochi female 04 (11%), Pukhtoon male 09 (07%), Pukhtoon female 03 (09%), Punjabi male 25 (19%), Punjabi female 05 (14%), Siraikis male 03 (02%) minorities and other males 04 (03%), minorities and other females 02 (06%). Highest incidences are observed in Sindhi and Urdu speaking population of Sindh province, especially in male. Active, passive smoking, air-pollution and occupational exposure could be reason of high number of incidences in major ethnic groups of Karachi, therefore screening parameters are of paramount importance to reduce the burden of disease.

Background and Objective: Globally, Colorectal Cancers are also third most common cancers and fourth leading cause of death due to carcinoma. Burden of Colorectal Cancers is also high in Pakistan. The main risk factor for Colorectal Cancer is age, however, other risk factors are e.g. family history, irritable bowel disease, sedentary life-style, high visceral adipose tissues, smoking and alcohol. Hence; the main objective of current study was to determine point prevalence of Colorectal Cancers in a mega city of Pakistan, Karachi; a representative population of Pakistan. It is hypothesized that incidences of Colorectal Cancers would be higher in Karachi than rest of the country. Materials and Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi. Duration of study was from January-2015 to October-2019. Data has been collected from two state-owned and four private hospitals of Karachi. Precision analysis technique was used to determine the sample size of study. Study is approved by Board of Advanced Studies & Research, University of Karachi (Reference Number: BASR/01046/Pharm.). Objective of study was explained to patients before initiation the study; informed consent was taken from each patient. S.P.S.S (Statistical-Package-for-Social-Sciences) software version 22 was used to analyze the data. Results: Among 1,617 patients: male 54.35% (N=879); female 45.64% (N=738). Mean age of diagnosis of colorectal cancer: male 49.51±14.72 years; female 45.28±13.52 years. Significantly higher point prevalence was found in ethnicity speaking Sindhi compared with ethnicity speaking Balochi (p=0.001), Pashto (p=0.0001), Punjabi (p=0.001) and Siraiki (p=0.0001); Urdu speaking compared with Balochi speaking (p=0.0001), Pashto speaking (p=0.0001), Punjabi speaking (p=0.0001) and Siraiki speaking (p=0.0001) in male. In female; Sindhi speaking point prevalence is significantly higher than Siraiki speaking (p=0.028); Urdu speaking point prevalence is significantly higher than patients speaking Balochi (p=0.012), Pashto (p=0.002), Punjabi (p=0.002) and Siraiki (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Allocation of resources are required at governmental and non-governmental level for early screening. National cancer registry program should also be initiated to support health policy makers for the development of counter strategies. Peer Review History: Received: 26 February 2023; Revised: 13 March; Accepted: 27 April 2023, Available online: 15 May 2023 Academic Editor: Prof. Cyprian Ogbonna ONYEJI, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, conyeji@oauife.edu.ng Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com

Sufi Syed Anwar Ali Shah, born on 11 Muharamul Haram 1324 H at Village Jahan pur Sharif, Taluka Mirpur Mathelo District Ghotki, His father, s Name is Syed Khuda Bux Shah. The forefathers of Syed Anwar Ali Shah belonged to Arabia, then migrated to Punjab (Uch Sharif) and then to Balochistan and then to Sindh. Syed Anwar Ali Shah received his early religious education from his uncle Hafiz Syed Bahadur Ali shah and then from Molvi Mohammad Essa Noorani. Anwar Ali Shah received a little wordly knowledge in apparent but his spiritual and metaphysical knowledge is very thoughtful. Sufi Anwar Ali Shah composed poetry in many languages i, e Sindhi, Urdu, Siraiki, Balochi, Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Marwari. Syed Anwar Ali Shah, s mystic poetry is full of deep sense, wide message and a great insight and enlightenment. He is on the same path of Mansoori. Poerty of Syed Anwar Shah is message of unity, tolerance and co-existence. Nodoubt, the urdu poetry of Syed Anwar Ali Shah is replete with thought-provoking subjects, and metaphorical terms, which needs a very deep study and insight to understand. Syed Anwar Shah is a great Sufi saint, and his message in poetry is in line with same all sufis of world. This article peeps in deep to his Urdu poetry at wider length.