Punjabi tops as ‘most spoken language’ in Pakistan

Workers of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics going door to door to collect data during Digital Census in Hyderabad on March 1, 2023. —INP
Staff of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics going door to door to gather information throughout Digital Census in Hyderabad on March 1, 2023. —INP
  • Highest proportion of Urdu audio system stay in Sindh: PBS
  • Pashto predominant language in KP, adopted by Hindko.
  • Balochi essential language in Balochistan, spoken by 39.91%.

As per the newest census statistics revealed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Punjabi is probably the most broadly spoken language within the nation, with 37% of the inhabitants utilizing it for communication, The Information reported on Sunday.

The second most spoken language is Pashto, with Sindhi takes the third spot. Whereas, almost 9% of the residents converse Urdu, with Sindh accommodating the biggest variety of Urdu audio system, adopted by Islamabad, the federal capital.

In accordance with the outcomes of the Census 2023, 9.25% of the inhabitants speaks Urdu nationwide, up from 7.08% in 2017.

The best proportion of Urdu audio system is in Sindh, adopted by Islamabad, the place 15.72 % of the inhabitants makes use of it as their main language. 

Punjabi stays probably the most generally spoken language, with 36.98% of the inhabitants utilizing it. In Punjab, Punjabi is dominant, spoken by 67% of the inhabitants, adopted by Islamabad at 50%.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pashto is the predominant language, spoken by 81% of the inhabitants, adopted by Hindko at 9.39%. In Sindh, Sindhi is probably the most spoken language, utilized by 60% of the inhabitants, adopted by Urdu at 22.30%.

In Balochistan, Balochi is the primary language, spoken by 39.91% of the inhabitants, adopted by Pashto at 34.30%. In Islamabad, a mixture of Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto is often used.