AIOU Hosts International Workshop on Multimodal Dataset Development for Pakistani Languages

WNAM REPORT: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) hosted a one-day international workshop on “Development of Multimodal Datasets for Pakistani Languages.” Experts emphasized that in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) the development of high-quality linguistic datasets is essential for the preservation, documentation and effective representation of Pakistani languages in modern technologies.
The inaugural session of the workshop was chaired by Professor Dr. Syed Amir Shah, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. He said that the development of standardized multimodal datasets for Pakistani languages would not only help ensure their effective representation in the digital world but also provide a strong foundation for linguistic research, education and the advancement of language technologies. He congratulated the Department of English and the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) for undertaking this important and timely initiative, adding that such research and academic projects would play a significant role in bringing Pakistani languages in line with modern digital requirements.
Fakhruddin Akhunzada, Executive Director of the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) said that around 80 languages are spoken in Pakistan, many of which face challenges to their survival. He stated that data on six Pakistani languages had already been collected under the project, while local communities were also being trained in language documentation and preservation.
Dr. Muhammad Kamal Khan, Chairman, Department of English said that multimodal data on Pashto, Punjabi, Hazaragi, Saraiki and other Pakistani languages had been collected under the project. He added that the data would be used for linguistic research and various applications of Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Maisam Ali of Indiana University, USA, the Principal Investigator of the project said that comprehensive linguistic data had been collected within a short period through teamwork and modern research methodologies. He added that the dataset would play an important role in preserving and promoting local languages and integrating them into future AI systems.
Dr. Rashida Imran said that documenting Pakistani languages and developing standardized multimodal datasets were crucial for their preservation and effective representation in modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. She thanked the Forum for Language Initiatives for this important academic and research initiative and said that collaboration among universities, research institutions and local communities could help preserve Pakistan’s linguistic heritage and ensure the representation of Pakistani languages in future AI technologies.
The workshop was organized by the Department of English, Allama Iqbal Open University in collaboration with the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI). The workshop was part of the ongoing professional training programme at the university.