Urdu Cultural Day Celebrated In INALCO France

Paris, France (Yaser Ilyas): The second edition of Urdu Cultural Day was celebrated by French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, France yesterday with a splendid display of Pakistan culture, recitation of Urdu poetry, singing of Urdu songs and photographic exhibition of Pakistan’s rich cultural and architecture heritage. 

Students and teachers of INALCO, members of French civil society and media persons attended the cultural day in large number. Ambassador of Pakistan to France Mr. Moin ul Haque was the chief guest at the event. 

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During his speech, the Ambassador appreciated efforts of the Urdu Section of INALCO for successfully organizing the 2^nd edition of Urdu Cultural Day and especially thanked the French students of Urdu section for their enthusiastic participation in various literary, cultural and social events.  He said that this event would help in promoting Urdu as one of the major languages of the world and would create more interest amongst the French students to learn Urdu language. 

While highlighting the effort of the Embassy of Pakistan to France to promote Urdu language in France, the Ambassador said that recently Embassy of Pakistan and Ensemble pour le Development Humain (EPDH) of France have jointly launched Urdu classes for the French young students in the suburbs of Paris for the first time in France.

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Earlier Mr. Shahzaman Haque, the incharge Urdu Section INALCO while welcoming the Ambassador, said that INALCO was the only French educational institution where Urdu was formally taught. He said that Urdu studies include Urdu Certificate (two academic years; seven hours a week), Urdu diploma (three years) and a Higher Diploma (four years). 

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During his visit, the Ambassador also met with Vice President INALCO Mr. Jean Francois Huchet and discussed with him ways and means to further promote Urdu as an optional language for the French students. He also presented some famous books of Urdu literature for INALCO library.