Annual book fair kicks off

LAHORE

In this era of internet where 1.7 billion people use Facebook worldwide and where Instagram and Snapchat are acting as agents of mood development for young people, arranging events like book fairs are great blessing, which provide food for thought and physically and intellectually connect us with the pools of knowledge and wisdom. 

According to a press release, keeping this spirit in view, University of Management and Technology (UMT) has organised a three-day book fair at its Johar Town campus. 

As many as 10,000 students and faculty members are expected to visit the event where more than 60 well-known national and international publishers set up their stalls at affordable prices. 

Veteran journalist Najam Sethi along with Chief Librarian Officer Rafique Awan, varsity’s American dean Bob Wheeler, Dr Abdul Hameed and Dr Mumtaz Hussain Malik inaugurated the event. 

Addressing the media, Sethi said that he always enjoyed visiting book fairs as they offered real analysis of everyday life. He said books were the primary source to increase knowledge and sharpen vision.

He asked the government to reduce prices of books bringing them in the reach of all and sundry. He said the government time and again granted subsidy on sugar but ignored the books, which he thought was critical for improving literacy. 

Sethi emphasised the students to develop sharp reading habits and befriend with books as they connect the reader with the world of wisdom.

He said Pakistanis were peace-loving nation and they were keen on literature but regrettably, the external world forcefully hooks them up with extremism and terrorism, which was not true at all Later, he visited the bookstalls.

It is worth mentioning that well-known publishing houses like Oxford, Atlas, Allied, Absco, Elan Vital, Second Wind, Knowledge Bank, Kims, Book Orchard, Aryan and others have set up their stalls offering 25 to 40 percent overall discount.  The book fair will conclude by December 22 evening.