Each university should have publishing facility to promote book culture: experts

Islamabad

Effective role of universities urged for promotion of book reading culture, knowledge creation and dissemination in a seminar on ‘Role of Universities in Promoting Book Culture’ organised by Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) at Pak-China Friendship Centre Islamabad.

The event was organised in connection with 7th National Book Day Festival. The main speakers included Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qasim Bughio, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters; renowned scholar Prof. Dr Najeeb Jamal, Islamia University Bahawalpur; Nadeem Akber, Director American Institute of Pakistan Studies Islamabad; Javed Zafar, Advisor COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Islamabad; Dr. Sajid Mehmood Awan, senior research fellow National Institute of Historical and Culture Research, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, and Muhammad Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan.

They also suggested use of modern technology and innovative methods to motivate the youth towards booking reading. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qasim Bughio stressed the need to pay special attention towards improving the university libraries through purchase of new books and encouraging access of the students. He was of the view that universities should also play their vital role for creation and dissemination of knowledge. In this regard, each university should have publishing facility.

Nadeem Akber suggested that special incentives should be offered to university faculty for writing books relevant to socio-economic issues of the country. He was of the view that book review culture could be helpful in promoting book reading culture among university youth.

Dr. Sajid Mahmood Awan said that higher education institutions should adopt innovative new methods for creation of knowledge instead of mere focusing over traditional role of teaching.

Dr. Najeeb Jamal remarked books have vital role in studies and training. But instead taking benefit from this valuable treasure, we lock them in cupboards. He lamented that in spite of passing of 70 years, book reading culture could not be promoted at Pakistani universities. Except one university in Pakistan, no university has translation centre to translate the important literature in our own languages, he added.

Murtaza Noor highlighted vital role of universities for undertaking research to solve the problems being confronted by Pakistani society.

Various other programmes were also organised on the second day of National Book Festival and a large number of people from twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad also paid visit and took keen interest in various stall displayed by leading publishing house of the country. They also purchased books on discounted prices. The main activities of second day included book reading sessions in Urdu and English languages, dialogue on literature of oversees Pakistanis, seminar on peace, prosperity and interfaith harmony, special session on works and life of Henrik Ibsen, famous Norwegian writer. The special programmes for the children also arranged in children activity area specially allocated at Pak-China Friendship Centre Islamabad. The stage performance by kids on poetry of Allama Iqbal was appreciated by the audience. A special session on basic techniques of drawing was also conducted. Separate story reading sessions were also conducted for the children.

The visitors also interacted with leading scholars from all parts of the country.

Sunday is last day of three-day National Book Festival. Along with other programmes, a dialogue on the topic of ‘Teaching of Fundamental Rights in Pakistan’ will be organised by Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences at 11 a.m.