Romanian language introduced at NUML for the first time in Pakistan.
Islamabad : The Embassy of Romania is pleased to announce a landmark development in Romanian-Pakistani academic and cultural cooperation: Romanian language classes will be introduced for the first time in Pakistan, at the prestigious National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad.
This initiative is the result of an agreement signed between the Romanian Language Institute (RLI), a public institution under the Ministry of Education and Research of Romania, and NUML, one of Pakistan’s leading higher education institutions dedicated to teaching world languages and promoting intercultural dialogue. The agreement was signed by Daiana Theodora Cuibus, General Director of IRL, and Maj. Gen. Shahid Mahmood Kayani, Retd, Rector of NUML.
Under this partnership, the Romanian Language Institute will appoint a qualified Romanian lecturer to teach courses on Romanian language, literature, culture, and civilization within NUML’s Faculty of Languages. These classes will be available as elective courses for students, enriching the linguistic and cultural offerings of the university. The Romanian lecturer will also engage in cultural promotion activities and contribute to strengthening academic links between Romania and Pakistan.
Dr Dan Stoenescu, the ambassador of Romania to Pakistan stated: “We welcome this important step as part of our broader efforts to enhance educational diplomacy, build people-to-people connections, and promote mutual understanding. Therefore, we hope to have Urdu classes in Romania as well. Romania deeply values its friendship with Pakistan and believes that language and culture are fundamental bridges between nations.”
The Romanian language is a Romance language that evolved from Latin and is the official language of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. It shares linguistic roots with other Romance languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, but it also bears the unique influence of Slavic, Greek, Turkish, and Hungarian languages due to Romania’s geographic and historical context. While Romanian and Urdu come from entirely different language families—Indo-European Romance and Indo-Aryan, respectively—they share some interesting parallels. Both languages have borrowed vocabulary from Turkish and Persian, especially in everyday expressions and cultural terms. Additionally, Romanian and Urdu are both deeply expressive languages with rich poetic traditions, and they place a strong emphasis on politeness and formality in speech. Although structurally different, learners may find cultural and lexical bridges that make the study of Romanian engaging for Urdu speakers.
Romania is a member of the European Union and a partner with significant potential in the fields of education, business, and academic mobility. Teaching the Romanian language in Pakistan will open new opportunities for students, researchers, and professionals interested in Erasmus+ scholarships, university collaborations, or developing careers within the European space. Moreover, Romania is home to a growing community of students and workers from South Asia, and knowledge of the Romanian language facilitates their integration and success.
The introduction of Romanian language courses at NUML reflects the shared commitment of both Romania and Pakistan to foster educational excellence, cultural diversity, and meaningful academic cooperation.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
