Three-day book fair begins at PU

LAHORE

A three-day book fair of Punjab University started at the university’s Institute of Education and Research (IER) on Thursday.

Over 140 stalls have been set up by publishers from across Pakistan presenting books on a variety of topics. The first day witnessed huge influx of visitors particularly students. 

Noted spiritual personality and author Sarfraz Shah inaugurated the book fair which PU administration claims to be Pakistan’s largest book fair. On this occasion, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Principal PU Law College Dr Shazia Naureen Quresi, Resident Officer-I Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Resident Officer-II Malik Muhammad Zaheer, Director Institute of Education & Research Prof Dr Mumtaz Akhter, deans, journalists and intellectuals, faculty members, students and people from all walks of life were present.

After inaugurating the book fair, Sarfaraz Shah along with others visited various stalls and lauded the efforts of PU administration for providing books on discounted rates.

Talking to the media Dr Mujahid Kamran called upon the government to subsidise books to promote reading habits in the country. He said presence of books in every house would promote reading habits among children as well. He said Muslims were facing problems due to their distance from books. He said the development in technology had not reduced the importance of books rather the number of printed books had increased worldwide. He said reading books groomed consciousness and it was a must to read books to create new knowledge.

Prof Dr Mujahid Mansoori said despite the emerging importance of electronic media, books had a pivotal role to play in formation of a society and commended the efforts of PU administration in organising such a mega event to promote reading habits.

Senior journalist Irshad Ahmed Arif said books were important in the lives of nations and societies. He said the societies which were interested in books would advance towards bright future while holding their pasts. He said it was a nice effort by the PU administration to make relationship of society with books.

Journalist Salman Ghani said organising such a mega book fair was a service to the nation.

He said a book was a source of bringing positive change in society and keeping societies alive. It was due to our distance from books that extremism and terrorism promoted in our society and created hurdles in the progress of our country, he said.  Columnist Dr Ajmal Niazi said the book fair was a proof that there was a strong connection between books and young people. He said people still loved books and that’s why they were taking great interest in the book fair. He said books were like houses and we must live in this house. TV anchor Najam Wali Khan said it was a mega event of its nature and we could connect society with books by providing books at discounted price. According to the organisers on the first day of the book fair, a large number of people thronged book stalls and purchased books of their interest on reasonable rates.