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Representatives Brad Sherman & Carolyn Maloney Statement Commending Voice of America’s launch of Sindhi Language Programming

July 13, 2022

We are thrilled that, after many years of advocacy for a Voice of America (VOA) Sindhi language program, Voice of America announced that it has launched a Sindhi language webpage.

There is perhaps nowhere in the world more important for the United States to battle extremism with public diplomacy than in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state with significant security challenges. VOA outreach in Pakistan will be far more effective with VOA communicating in the Sindhi language.

Currently, VOA Urdu actively engages with several television and radio affiliates in Pakistan, offering updates on the latest developments in the United States. Urdu is the native language for only an estimated 8% of Pakistanis. An estimated 14% of Pakistanis – over 30 million people - speak Sindhi, yet VOA has no service in Sindhi.

In April, we urged the Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to provide $2 million in funding to VOA to support Sindhi language outreach in Pakistan. We are pleased that the FY23 Appropriations bill supports the launch of VOA's Sindhi language service and supports additional funding for language service staffing and affiliate support in Pakistan.

The launch of a VOA Sindhi-language website is a meaningful step towards expanding VOA's reach and message in Pakistan. We hope it is just the first of many steps towards a full VOA service in the Sindhi language.

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