Islamabad: Members of Pakistan’s National Assembly are now officially permitted to address the Assembly in both Urdu and English, a decision aimed at accommodating the linguistic diversity of the nation. This bilingual framework is designed to reflect the constitutional status of Urdu as the national language while acknowledging the extensive use of English in legislative and legal discussions.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the Speaker of the Assembly holds the discretion to allow members who are unable to effectively communicate in either Urdu or English to speak in their mother tongue. If such members wish for a summary of their speech to be read in Urdu, they must provide a copy of the summary to the Speaker for approval. This flexibility supports the inclusion of local languages in the Assembly’s proceedings.

The bilingual maintenance of the official record of proceedings ensures that the debates and discussions are accessible to a wider audience. This approach aligns with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, which were initially passed in 2007 and have been amended 21 times, with the most recent amendment on October 22, 2024. The dual-language system is not only a nod to cultural inclusivity but also serves to enhance transparency for citizens, who can access transcripts and records in both languages.