'it is a relief to see the whole subject discussed in one place in the detail it had always deserved . He has put together what is clearly the first authoritative account of languages in Pakistan. It is properly pegged to sources within the text and has an impressive bibliography and indexthat are truly helpful to anyone wanting to uncover the truth. Tariq Rahman has earned the gratitude of Pakistani readers for having written this extremely well researched book. It contains chapters on Balochi, Pashto and Punjabi too, which are no less informative. The author has done some real goodwork on the politics of Balochi and has also covered the extraordinary greenhouse of languages in the Northern Areas. The book easily qualifies as the best book written in Pakistan in the year 1996.'Khaled Ahmed, Friday Times.