PRESIDENT Mamnoon Hussain, may he rest in peace, was scheduled to visit Azerbaijan and the question was what gift should be presented to President Ilham Aliyev. The late President did not want an ordinary gift. He wanted something meaningful that could also serve as a showcase for Pakistani products. There were many suggestions, but eventually he decided to present President Aliyev and the First Lady with exquisite leather products. The gift opened several doors for Pakistan. But that is another story. I want to share one directly connected with today’s ceremony. Baku State University had decided to confer an honorary PhD on President Mamnoon Hussain. I suggested that, on this occasion, he should also present the university with a worthy gift. When he asked what it should be, I proposed a complete set of the Urdu Lughat, the dictionary compiled by the Urdu Dictionary Board. “Why the dictionary?” the Principal Secretary asked.

I explained that this dictionary, compiled on historical principles, is unique in the world. It does not merely give the root of a word; it traces its origin, development and evolution. It is also distinctive because, alongside poetic evidence, it provides citations from prose. Anyone who understands the difference between poetry and prose can appreciate the importance of this feature. I also........

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