ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP):In a landmark step for inclusive education, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has moved to standardize Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) as a single national identity for the deaf community across the country.
The decision was formalized after a high-level national dialogue and meetings that brought together representatives from the Federation, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to details, the forum after comprehensive deliberations and presentations from all federating units unanimously adopted a historic Joint Declaration.
The declaration establishes the National Institute of Special Education (NISE) as the core federal institute for Pakistan Sign Language. It also mandates the National Task Force to finalize the definitive 1,500-sign compendium as Volume-I under the Deaf-led principle, ensuring that the language is developed and owned by the deaf community itself.
The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan, which partnered with the Ministry to build national consensus on the long-pending issue. The standardization aims to remove regional disparities in signs and provide deaf children with uniform learning material and communication tools.
The Ministry of Federal Education lauded the collective resolve shown by all federating units, UNICEF, and the Deaf leadership, terming the declaration a robust roadmap for an inclusive future.
Officials stated that this milestone will ensure that every deaf child in Pakistan can learn, belong, grow and be heard, and will pave the way for inclusive education reforms and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities nationwide.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
