Center for Language Engineering

 
 



 

 

Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science
KICS-UET

National ICT R&D Fund

Ministry of Information Technology



 
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Workshop on
Facilitating Local Language Content Access and Generation
using Human Language Technologies


CLE in collaboration with National ICT R&D Fund, Ministry of Information Technology, Government of Pakistan is pleased to host a one-day workshop as per the following details:

Date:    August 27, 2015 
Time: 9:00 to 5:00 PM   
Venue: Seminar Room,
Al-Khwarizmi Institute of Computer  Science KICS),
University of Engineering & Technology (UET),
Lahore 
Introduction
Locally relevant content online has potential to improve the socio-economic opportunities, address local governance issues, enhance educational outcomes and enrich indigenous cultural representation of local communities. Gaps in linguistic research, computing standards, end-user tools continue to pose a significant barrier for these communities across Pakistan to produce, communicate, and use resources in local language both online and through mobile platforms. With more than 60 languages spoken in Pakistan, a comprehensive and coordinated national effort is needed to mature ICTs to a level where they can be effectively used for empowering these communities.
Objectives
Key objectives of the event are :
  • To underscore the need for relevant local language content and determine how technology can help bridge the current gaps in its accessibility and generation.
  • To develop a roadmap for innovative ICT R&D projects for addressing these gaps.
  • To create meaningful research collaborations among HLT researchers, academia, industry  and content produces to address these gaps in local language content development and dissemination.
Topics
  1. Importance of relevant local language content.
  2. Human Language Technology (HLT) for facilitating access to local language content.
  3. HLT for promoting generation of relevant local language content.
  4. Access of local content by people with disabilities.
  5. Role of local language content in promoting languages of Pakistan, especially preservation of languages in danger.
Target Audience
This workshop will bring together local language and technology experts, researchers, practitioners, ICT experts and other stakeholders to discuss different strategies for development of local language content in robust and cost effective manner.
Program
Time Talk Speaker
9:00 AM - 9:10 AM Qirat & Overview of the Program Center for Language Engineering, KICS, UET
9:15 AM - 9:25 AM Introduction to the Workshop Mr. Aamir Sami,
General Manager, Solicitation, Engagement and Evaluation Dept. National ICT R&D Fund
9:30 AM - 9:40 AM Content Generation and Dissemination from Publishing Industry Perspective Mr. Tayyab Aijaz
Managing Editor, Urdu Digest
9:45 AM - 9:55 AM Challenges for Disseminating Publically Produced Data Mr. Mohsin Abbas Syed, Director
Legislation and Parl. Affairs, Govt. of Punjab
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM Content Access Need and Challenges for People with Disabilities Ms. Ammara Anwar and Mr. Tahir Ali
Pakistan Foundation for Fighting Blindness
10:15 AM - 10:25 AM Need for Preservation and Promotion of Languages in Danger Mr. InamUllah, President
Mother Tongue and Heritage for Education and Research (MOTHER)
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Tea
10:45 AM - 10:50 AM Welcome Note Dr. Waqar Mahmood
Director, KICS
10:50 AM -11:00 AM Remarks by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid
Vice Chancellor, UET
11:00 AM – 11:10 AM E-governance and Local Language Mr. Waqar Naeem Qureshi
Director General, Punjab IT Board
11:15 AM – 11:25 AM Content Model Applications for Promoting Local Language Content: QCRI perspective Dr. Hassaan Sajjad
Qatar Computing Research Institute
11:30 AM - 11:40 AM Multi-Modal Interfaces and Channels for Access of Local Language Content Dr. Agha Ali Raza
Information Technology University
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM HLTs for Access, Generation and Dissemination of Local Language Content:
A National Perspective
Dr. Sarmad Hussain
Center for Language Engineering,
KICS, UET
12:15 AM - 1:15 PM Focus Groups on
  1. Access of Local Language Content and HLTs
  2. Generation and Dissemination of Local Language Content and HLTs
Facilitators:
Dr. Sarmad Hussain
Mr. Ali Iqbal
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Focus Group Discussions Continued
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Reports on Local Language Content Access, Generation, Dissemination and HLTs
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM Tea
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM Panel on:
Next Steps for Local Language Content Access, Generation and Dissemination
Panelists:
Dr. Muhammad Afzal, KICSIT, Islamabad
Dr. Ghulam Raza, PIEAS, Islamabad
Dr. Nasrullah Wazir, Pashto Academy, Peshawar
Mr. Fayyaz Hussain Buriro, SLA, Hyderabad
Dr. Tafseer Ahmed, DHA Suffa Uni. Karachi
Speakers and Participants
Name Designation Organization
Dr. Khaver Zia Dean School of Computer & Information Techology,Beaconhouse National University, Lahore
Dr. Muhammad Afzal Director & Professor Dr. A. Q. Khan Institute of Computer Sciences and Information Technology,Rawalpindi
Dr. Nasrullah Jan Wazir Chairperson Department of Pashto,University of Peshawar, Peshawar
Dr.  Sughra  Sadaf Director Punjab Institute of Language Art & Culture, Government of the Punjab, Lahore
Dr. Tariq Rahman Dean Department of Economics, Beaconhouse National University
Dr. Sarmad Hussain Professor & Head Center for Language Engineering, KICS, UET, Lahore
Dr. Shafay Shamail  Associate Professor Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore
Dr. Hassaan Sajjad Scientist Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar
Dr. Tania Habib Assistant Professor Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore
Dr. Ghulam Raza Principal Engineer Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad
Dr. Agha Ali Raza Assistant Professor Information Technology University, Lahore
Dr. Amir Mehmood Assistant Professor Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science, UET, Lahore
Dr. Kashif Javed Assistant Professor Electrical and Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore
Dr. Tafseer Ahmed Assistant Professor DHA Suffa University, Karachi
Dr. Ayesha Sohail Assistant Professor University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir - Muzaffarabad 
Mr. Shafiq ur Rehman Associate Professor University of Central Punjab, Lahore
Ms. Hina Khalid Assistant Professor Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology (UET)
Ms. Huda Sarfraz Assistant Professor Beaconhouse National University
Mr. Aasim Ali Assistant Professor Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT), Lahore
Mr. Muhammad Kamran Malik Assistant Professor Punjab University College of Information Technology (PUCIT), Lahore
Ms. Elena Bashir Senior Lecturer University of Chicago
Mr. Toqeer Ehsan Lecturer University of Gujrat
Mr. Ghulam Ali Lecturer University of Gujrat
Mr. Waqar Naeem Qureshi Director General (IT Solutions) Punjab Information Technology Board
Mr. Muhammad Asim Chaudhry Deputy Director Punjab Institute of Language Art & Culture, Government of the Punjab, Lahore
Mr. Mohsin Abbas Syed Director Legislation and Parl. Affairs, Govt. of Punjab
Mr. Tayyab Aijaz Managing Editor Urdu Digest
Mr. InamUllah President Mother Tongue and Heritage for Education and Research (MOTHER)
Ms. Ammara Anwar Program Specialist Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness
Mr. Tahir Ali Project Coordinator Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness
Mr. Fayaz Hussain Buriro IT Specialist Sindhi Language Authority, Hyderabad, Sindh.
Mr. Ahmad Muaaz Principal Software Engineer PolyVista
Mr. Atif Gulzar Vice President Engineering Caramel Tech Studios
Venue
Seminar Room, Al-Khwarizmi Institute of Computer Science (KICS),
University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore
Contact Us
For queries please contact:
Center for Language Engineering
Al-Khawarizmi Institute of Computer Science
University of Engineering and Technology, G.T. Road,
Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99029450, +92-42-36821444
Email:

 

 


 

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