KARACHI: Rich tributes were paid to scholar and linguist, Baba-e-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq, on the occasion of his 55th death anniversary on Tuesday.

A ceremony in this connection was held at the Federal Urdu University here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National History and literary Heritage, Irfan Siddiqui, said that the services of Maulvi Abdul Haq for the cause of Urdu would always be remembered.

He further pointed out that Urdu was lingua france and a unifying force.

Irfan Siddiqui further stated that it is our responsibility to highlight the lives and achievement as well as the contributions of our national heroes so that the younger generations could also be apprised about these. He was of the view that concerted efforts should be made for the promotion, development and progress of Urdu language.

Irfan Siddiqui said that Baba-e-Urdu had initiated struggle for the promotion of Urdu before the inception of Pakistan and worked for his goal throughout his life.

He was of the view that programmes marking the death anniversary of Maulvi Abdul Haq should be conducted in every city in Pakistan to apprise younger generation of his valuable contributions.—APP