Date: 7th March, 2025 (Karachi) A strategic meeting was held at Science & IT department Government of Sindh. Discussion was focused on supporting the AMBILE efforts to develop and strengthen Sindhi Language digitalization core with the use of generative AI, the localization of governmental web portals in the Sindhi language and the promotion of digital literacy by integrating Sindhi leveraging AI and emerging technological frameworks.
Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering (AMBILE), Hyderabad, engaged in discussions with Noor Ahmed Samoo, Secretary S&ITD; Ayaz Ahmed Uqaili, Member (IT Industry Development) S&ITD; and Saif-Ul-Malook, Director of Operations S&ITD.
During the meeting, it was mutually agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will soon be drafted between S&ITD and AMBILE to facilitate the localization of government websites in the Sindhi language. As an initial step, the official website of S&ITD will be localized, incorporating a Sindhi User Interface (UI), followed by a comprehensive content translation. Upon the successful implementation of this phase, a structured approach will be adopted to extend Sindhi localization across various government departmental websites in Sindh.
The discussion also highlighted the critical need for Sindhi Computational Linguistics, a field that has long been overlooked in academia where only Literature is emphasized. Currently, only a handful of individuals are working in this domain of Sindhi Computational Linguistics, with AMBILE taking a pioneering role. To strengthen this effort, the proposal to establish a Sindhi Language Laboratory at AMBILE was put forward. This lab would focus on phonetics and phonological advancements, ensuring the proper utilization of Sindhi in computational applications. It was proposed that S&ITD would act as the sponsoring agency, while AMBILE would execute this groundbreaking project from its Hyderabad office. The establishment of this laboratory will not only advance Sindhi phonetics but will also significantly contribute to digital literacy initiatives and the seamless integration of Sindhi into modern technological platforms.
Furthermore, the meeting underscored the importance of preserving and enhancing Sindhi language capabilities in speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies. In this regard, the WordNet program, an ongoing initiative at AMBILE, was discussed as a crucial milestone project. It was decided that S&ITD would sponsor this initiative, enabling the development of Sindhi language resources for future technological applications.
Amar Fayaz Buriro provided a comprehensive briefing on the completed and ongoing projects of AMBILE like Bhittaipedia.com, earning commendation from all meeting participants. The members particularly appreciated the proactive role of the Culture Department in establishing AMBILE, recognizing it as a timely response to the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and language engineering in the digital era. Ayaz Ahmed Uqaili emphasized that the collaboration between AMBILE and S&ITD would significantly enhance digital literacy and pave the way for the development of various portals and projects aimed at promoting Sindhi language integration.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous agreement to the necessity of perfecting and incorporating the Sindhi language into all digital platforms. The participants expressed their commitment to this initiative, citing its potential to catalyze adoption to digital era, strengthen Sindhi’s global presence, and improve educational and linguistic access for future generations.