An important seminar titled “Role of Students in Natural Language Processing (NLP) for the Promotion and Preservation of Sindhi Language” was held on May 8, 2025, at the Department of Sindhi Language and Literature, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Shaheed Benazirabad. The event was organized with the aim of emphasizing the pivotal role students can play in integrating Sindhi language with emerging technologies, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence and NLP.
The seminar was presided over by Prof. Dr. Liaquat Ali Zardari, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and featured Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering, Hyderabad, as the keynote speaker.
Dr. Amir Ali Shah, Chairman of the Department of Sindhi Language and Literature, warmly welcomed the keynote speaker, distinguished scholars, and attendees. During the seminar, Dr. Irum Naz Sodhar and Dr. Azeem Ayaz Mirani, Assistant Professors from the Department of Information Technology, presented insightful papers on NLP. They emphasized the urgent need for the development of advanced digital tools and frameworks to include the Sindhi language in global AI platforms.
Dr. Phuloo Sundar Meghwar, Assistant Professor from the Department of Sindhi Language and Literature, presented a comprehensive paper outlining the historical journey and ongoing development of Sindhi language studies within the university.
In his keynote address, Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro stressed the need for collective efforts to preserve Sindhi’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage in the age of AI. He cited global trends, including a prediction by Bill Gates regarding the transformation of traditional professions by AI, and encouraged students to embrace these technological shifts. He reassured the audience that human language expertise remains essential, as AI fundamentally depends on linguistic data, including grammar, dialects, and indigenous wisdom.
He further remarked that Sindhi, one of the world’s oldest languages, deserves scholarly attention and preservation through modern digital tools. Mr. Buriro challenged outdated theories about language origins, particularly criticizing the now-disputed Aryan theory, and asserted that Sindhi could be traced back to the early Proto-Indo linguistic roots.
Importantly, Mr. Buriro announced that the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering would offer its platform for collaborative projects to students of both Sindhi Language and Computer Science departments. This initiative aims to enable practical engagement in the development of NLP tools and resources for Sindhi.
At the conclusion of the seminar, a vote of thanks was extended by Dr. Amir Ali Shah and Dr. Phuloo Sundar Meghwar.
Following the seminar, two interactive workshops were held focusing on project integration and institutional guidance for students. It was mutually agreed that six students from the Computer Science Department and fifteen students from the Department of Sindhi would undergo specialized training at the institute. These selected students will be engaged in various NLP-based projects to advance the Sindhi language in digital domains.
