On 26th September 2024, Mr. Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Secretary of Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives, Government of Sindh, visited the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering in Hyderabad. He was accompanied by Mr. Akhtiyar Ali Mangi, Executive Engineer, and Mr. Muhammad Tanweer, Consultant.
Upon arrival, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of the Institute. During the visit, Mr. Buriro briefed the Secretary on the ongoing work at the institute, particularly in the Language Laboratory, where developers are engaged in the Sindhi WordNet project. The Secretary inquired about the nature of the developers’ input for the project and was impressed by the progress, which is fully automated and accessible globally through the institute’s web portal.
The Secretary expressed his pleasure in seeing the institute’s work being carried out at such a high level of automation and transparency. He suggested that the Bhittaipedia project—which preserves Sindh’s folk wisdom and involves translating Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry into 130 languages using AI—should be formally registered with the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) to secure the intellectual rights of this significant project. It was also recommended that the project be presented to the Chief Minister of Sindh for further recognition and support, given its monumental importance.
During the visit, the Bhittaipedia Newsletter was officially launched, covering the latest developments in the project. Mr. Buriro also provided insights into the institute’s collaboration with various universities to develop the Sindhi WordNet, which has resulted in productive relationships with both the department and the academic community of Sindh province.
Secretary Kalwar praised the institute’s work, noting that not only does the institute operate at international standards, but its infrastructure, cleanliness, and overall environment reflect those standards as well. The visit concluded with positive feedback and a shared commitment to further promoting Sindh’s cultural and linguistic heritage on a global scale.
