Has Pakistan adopted Chinese language 'Mandarian' officially?
On February 19, the Pakistan Senate has approved a motion and declared Chinese language 'Mandrian as its official language. After which India media reported the news with great relish that Pakistan had confirmed to make Mandarin as country's official language. The country has Urdu and English as its official language before Mandarian.
Pakistan's TV channel AbbTak reported the story but it, unfortunately, went wrong. However, the facts are not what it the channel reported.
In fact, the country has only permitted the Mandrian Chinese language for businessmen and other professionals to provide opportunities who are willing to do business in China.
Mushahid Hussain, head of the Pakistan-China Institute, said it is important to enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries.
The Pakistan Senate's move comes at a time when diplomatic ties between Beijing and Islamabad are strong - often to India's detriment.
However, the report is not clear that which the Chinese language would be officially allowed as for there is no single 'Chinese language,' but a group that includes Mandarin and Cantonese. In China, Maradian has widely spoken language.
In the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China has invested $60 billion, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, economic expert says, Pakistan may not be able to pay the project amount back as it is a long-term loan.
The media reported the news that the Chinese language had been approved in the Pakistani Senate with a mention of CPEC and referring 'official' in it. While the fact about the motion is it is not about making Mandrian an official language of Pakistan. Instead, it was about teaching the official language in Pakistan.
Hence, the news has been misreported and that's by Pakistan's TV news channel in the first row that Indian media followed.
First published: 21 February 2018, 13:48 IST