ISLAMABAD: According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and linguistic research, over 70 native languages are spoken by 240 million people across Pakistan. While some number in millions, others are on brink of extinction with less than a thousand speakers.
Punjabi
Punjabi is the most widely spoken native language in Pakistani, with approximately 83 million speakers. This accounts for around 44 per cent of the total population.
It is predominantly spoken in the Punjab province, serving as a vital part of the region’s cultural identity. It also enjoys a rich literary tradition, with a strong presence in local music and arts.
Pashto
Pashto follows closely behind with 50 million speakers, constituting around 18 per cent of the population. It is mainly spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan.
The Indo-Iranian language has a strong oral tradition, with poetry and storytelling being central to the cultural practices of Pashtun communities.
Sindhi
About 30 million people speak Sindhi, representing roughly 15 per cent of the population. The language is primarily used in the Sindh province.
Sindhi plays a crucial role in local culture and heritage, with Sindhi literature enjoying a long, rich history.
Urdu
While recognised as the national and co-official language of Pakistan, Urdu is the first language of around 70 million people. It makes up about a mere 8 per cent of the population.
While it serves as a lingua franca among various ethnic groups, Urdu is widely used in education, media and government.
Balochi
Despite being a provincial language, Balochi is only spoken by around 7 million people as their first language. It accounts for about 3 per cent of the country’s entire population.
The language is primarily spoken in Balochistan, where it an an essential aspect of the local identity. And while Balochi literature is less extensive than that of other languages, it is gaining recognition and appreciation.
Saraiki
Saraiki is spoken by around 10 per cent of the country’s populace – about 26 million speakers. It is mainly spoken in southern Punjab and enjoys its own distinct cultural and literary traditions.
Although there is a huge controversy regarding its status as a separate language, Saraiki speakers often emphasise their unique identity within the broader Punjabi culture.
Hindko
With an estimated three million speakers, Hindko constitutes roughly 1.5 per cent of the population. It is spoken in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab, where it has a rich oral traditional and ongoing efforts to promote its literary heritage.
Shina
Shina is the most widely spoken language in Gilgit-Baltistan, primarily used in the Gilgit district and surrounding areas. Its speakers average around 300,000.
Other languages spoken in Gilgit-Baltistan include Balti with approximately 200,000 speakers in Skardu district, Khowar with 100,000 native speakers in Chitral and Ghizer district, and Burushaski with less than 90,000 speakers in Hunza and Nagar valley.
