Romanize Urdu

Simplest route to increasing Literacy in Pakistan

[Roman Urdu Version]

Urdu, as Pakistan's national language, plays a crucial role in uniting the diverse linguistic landscape of the country. However, the traditional Urdu script, with its complex calligraphy and orthographic rules, presents significant barriers to literacy and digital accessibility. We argue that the adoption of Roman Urdu, using the Latin alphabet, can democratize technology use and significantly enhance literacy rates in Pakistan.

Roman Urdu leverages the global familiarity with the Latin alphabet, which most Pakistanis are exposed to through English. The simplicity of this script compared to the traditional Urdu script—which requires mastering different letter forms and a cursive writing style—significantly lowers the barrier to literacy and technology use.

Technology platforms and devices are predominantly optimized for the Latin alphabet. This optimization extends to keyboards, software, and user interfaces, making Roman Urdu more compatible with modern technology. By adopting Roman Urdu, Pakistani users can easily create, consume, and navigate digital content without needing specialized software or keyboards.

According to the Ministry of Federal Education, Pakistan's literacy rate is currently 62.3%, with an estimated 60 million people still illiterate. By simplifying the script through Roman Urdu, the literacy rates can potentially increase, as learning and writing become more accessible. Given that Pakistan defines literacy as the ability to read a newspaper and write a simple letter, Roman Urdu could play a pivotal role in enhancing functional literacy across the country.

Literacy Rates by Province (2023): 

These figures illustrate the significant disparities in literacy across different regions and between genders. In areas with low literacy rates, particularly among women, Roman Urdu could provide a practical solution by making reading and writing more accessible.

Despite its exceptional aesthtics and deeply rooted tradition value the traditional Urdu script presents several challenges:

• Orthographic Complexity: Urdu's script is an abjad, where vowels are often omitted, making reading difficult for beginners. For example, the word "کتاب" (kitab) in Urdu does not explicitly show the vowel sounds, whereas Roman Urdu "kitab" clearly indicates the pronunciation.

• Cursive Style and Word Recognition: The connected letters in Urdu's cursive writing require readers to recognize whole words rather than individual letters. For instance, the words "اس" (iss:this) and "اس" (uss:that) are written the same in the Urdu script, and the reader must rely either on context or diacritics to differentiate them, a challenge for less frequent readers.

• Redundant and Similar-looking Letters: Urdu has several letters that are pronounced similarly but written differently, adding to the confusion. For example, the letters "ث" (se), "س" (seen), and "ص" (swaad) all represent the 's' sound in different words. Additionally, "ز" (ze), "ذ" (zal), "ض" (zwaad), and "ظ" (zoe) all produce the 'z' sound, complicating spelling for learners.

These challenges make the Urdu script particularly difficult for infrequent readers, non-native speakers, and those with limited educational opportunities.

The adoption of Roman Urdu in digital and educational realms offers a practical solution to the linguistic challenges faced by millions in Pakistan. It aligns with global digital standards and supports national goals for increasing literacy. Embracing Roman Urdu could help ensure that Pakistani citizens are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital world, leading to broader social and economic benefits.

We urge technology giants like Microsoft, Google, and Apple to introduce Roman Urdu language packs in their operating systems and most common apps. This would allow millions of people in Pakistan who are not literate in the Urdu script to use these technologies more effectively. By making their platforms accessible in Roman Urdu, these companies can play a pivotal role in enhancing literacy, fostering digital inclusion, and contributing to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. This strategic move would not only benefit users but also position these companies as leaders in supporting global literacy initiatives and technological accessibility.

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