
Date: January 29, 2025. In a momentous ceremony held on January 29, 2025, at the Multipurpose Hall of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Shaheed Benazir Abad, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri, the founder of Sindhi Computing and Lifetime Co-chairman of the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering (AMBILE), was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by Prof. Dr. Syed Madad Ali Shah, Vice Chancellor of SBBU, in recognition of Mr. Bhurgri’s unparalleled contributions to the advancement of Sindhi language and computing.
Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri is widely regarded as the pioneer of Sindhi Computing, having introduced Sindhi text to computer screens in 1987—a groundbreaking achievement that laid the foundation for the Sindhi language in the field of information technology. His development of UNICODE-based Sindhi fonts, popularly known as MB Sindhi fonts, revolutionized Sindhi publishing and printing. His relentless efforts also led to the inclusion of the Sindhi language in the Windows Operating System, a milestone that has significantly enhanced the digital presence of Sindhi.
The event also honored Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of AMBILE, with a memento shield for his outstanding and innovative research in Sindhi computing. Mr. Buriro has played a pivotal role in the development of Sindhi language AI models, the creation of the first Sindhi Optical Character Recognizer (OCR), and numerous other projects in Sindhi language engineering. His tireless efforts have been instrumental in bringing Sindhi language technology to new heights.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Salman Bashir, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Syed Ameer Ali Shah, Chairman of the Department of Sindhi Language and Literature; and Dr. Phuloo Sundar, a prominent faculty member of the department. A large number of students, literary figures, and professionals from various fields also attended the event, making it a memorable occasion.
The event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, setting a reflective and inspiring tone. Prof. Dr. Madad Ali Shah, the host of the event, presented traditional Sindhi Topi and Ajrak to Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri and Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro as a gesture of respect and honor.
In his address to the audience, Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro emphasized the urgent need to integrate Sindhi language into the global corpora of languages and connect it with large language models. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between language-related institutions and academia to achieve this goal. Mr. Buriro praised Mr. Bhurgri’s pioneering work, citing his coordination with Microsoft and Linux OS for the integration of Sindhi language as a shining example of dedication and vision. He described Mr. Bhurgri as a true game-changer whose contributions have brought about a paradigm shift in Sindhi society.
Prof. Dr. Madad Ali Shah, Vice Chancellor of SBBU, expressed his pride in hosting such a significant event. He acknowledged that while the Lifetime Achievement Award is a small token of appreciation, it serves as a reminder of Mr. Bhurgri’s extraordinary contributions to Sindhi language and computing. Dr. Shah commended Mr. Bhurgri for being a man of action whose work has left an indelible mark on the nation.
In his special address, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri humbly attributed his achievements to the blessings and guidance of Almighty Allah. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the administration of SBBU, particularly Prof. Dr. Madad Ali Shah, for organizing such a memorable event and honoring him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“While the Lifetime Achievement Award is a small token of appreciation, it serves as a reminder of Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri’s extraordinary contributions to Sindhi language and computing. (Prof. Dr. Madad Ali Shah)
The ceremony also included the distribution of participation certificates to students who actively contributed to the Sindhi WordNet Program, a project developed by AMBILE. The program is set to become a core language model for integrating Sindhi into various Natural Language Processing (NLP) projects and large language models. The honored students included Aftab Hussain, Farman Ali, Tofique Ahmed, Mustafa Keerio, Iqra Gabol, Kainat Deedar Jatoi, Nizam Jatoi, and Lal Khan.
A significant highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AMBILE and SBBU. The MoU aims to foster collaboration in developing Sindhi corpora, large language models, and NLP tools, marking a new chapter in the advancement of Sindhi language engineering.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Phuloo Sunder Meghawar, a senior faculty member of the Sindhi Department. She expressed gratitude to all participants, guests, and organizers for making the event a resounding success.
This historic event not only celebrated the achievements of Mr. Abdul Majid Bhurgri and Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro but also underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in preserving and promoting the Sindhi language in the digital age.