Lahore, The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature (GCLL) at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has introduced a significant resource for Urdu language scholars and enthusiasts with the launch of the Gurmani Manual for Academic Writing. This comprehensive manual is designed to aid students, researchers, and general readers in mastering the nuances of academic prose and research writing in Urdu, a language spoken by nearly 170 million people across Pakistan and India.

According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, the Gurmani Manual for Academic Writing serves as a tribute to Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani, a founding member of the Gurmani Centre, and is aimed at enhancing the standards of Urdu academic writing. This publication is recognized as the most current manual available, covering a wide range of topics essential for academic writing, such as research methodologies, plagiarism, and the mechanics of writing, including punctuation, citations, bibliography, footnotes, proofreading, indexing, and editing.

The manual’s release addresses a significant gap in the availability of contemporary academic writing resources in Urdu, contrasting with the abundance of such guides in English. The initiative by the Gurmani Centre to publish this comprehensive manual demonstrates a commitment to elevating the quality and accessibility of academic writing resources in the Urdu language.

Dr. Nadhra Shahbaz Khan, Director of GCLL, remarked on the importance of the publication, noting it as a landmark achievement for the Centre’s Publication Cell and its dedication to enhancing literary and academic standards. The manual has received a positive reception from the Urdu literary and academic community, filling a long-standing void in resources for academic writing in Urdu.

The launch event was attended by notable figures in academia and literature, including Dr. Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of LUMS; Syed Babar Ali, Founding Pro Chancellor of LUMS; and Dr. Tabbasum Kashmiri, who chaired the session. The event highlighted the collaborative effort of experts in Urdu academic writing and research who contributed to the manual, marking a significant step forward in supporting and enriching Urdu academic and literary practices.