Senate panel warns against offensive remarks on Pakhtuns in O-Level Urdu book

A Senate committee on Tuesday expressed concern and disapproval over offensive remarks against Pakhtuns in an O-Level Urdu book.

The Senate Standing Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, addressed concerns over derogatory content in an O-Level Urdu book that offended Pakhtuns.

The committee was informed that the book had been banned, and the author had issued a written apology. Despite this, Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan expressed frustration over the book’s continued availability.

The committee chairperson stressed the federal government’s responsibility in overseeing educational content and called for the publisher and author to attend the next meeting.

She stated that such content promoted hate speech and negatively impacted children, urging the Ministry of Education to issue a directive to all provinces to withdraw the book.

This move, she said, would serve as a warning to other authors and publishers. The issue, raised by Senator Khan in the Senate on October 18, was referred to the committee.

The committee also discussed funding for the HEC’s International Research Support Initiative (IRSIP) and the ongoing hunger strike by Balochistan University staff over unpaid salaries, highlighting the need for increased funding for education in the region.