‘PHEC to launch mobile libraries to promote reading’

LAHORE

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Dr Nizamuddin has said PHEC will launch mobile libraries project to promote book reading culture, adding this facility would be provided in remote areas.

He said this while addressing a seminar organised by Punjab University (PU) Department of Information Management and PU Library in connection with celebrations of World Book and Copyright Day on Thursday.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir, journalist Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Chairperson Department of Information Management Prof Dr Kanwal Amin, Chief Librarian Haseeb Paracha, President Academic Staff Association Javed Sami, Secretary Iftikhar Tarrar, Director General PHEC Shahid Soroya, faculty members and a large number of students were present. 

Dr Nizam said it was a misconception that the number of publication of books had reduced due to electronic media rather electronic media was supplementing print media. He said the number of publication of books was increasing globally however it was necessary to promote book reading habits. He said: “We must connect our students with history through promotion of book reading culture so that we could understand background of happenings”.

Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir said the PU administration was taking several initiatives to promote book reading culture on the campus. He said every student would have to write book reviews of 10 relevant course books in each semester otherwise they would not get their degrees. He said the administration would set up library in each hostel and a library would also be established in campus colony for children. He said the university would award special prize to the person who would write maximum book reviews and the university would also consider the person who would read maximum books for the roll of honor. He said: “Our multinational companies must come forward to promote book reading culture and fulfill their corporate social responsibilities”. He announced the administration would organise book fair from April 27 to April 29.

Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami said: “Our relationship with book had weakened and there was need to find out reasons behind it. Mohalla-level libraries had vanished and universities had turned into colleges where there was lack of creation of new knowledge. The real problem was that we don’t have reading habits. We must establish strong link between students and books”. 

Dr Kanwal Amin said e-books had not replaced printed books rather electronic media was complementing and supporting printed editions. She said the role of books was increasing and that’s why number of publication of books had increased manifold worldwide and the importance of printed books had not reduced. She said the traditional value of books would remain alive forever and we must not worry about it because books were major source of transfer of knowledge. However, she said, there was a dire need to promote book reading habits. She said: “We must give books to our children instead of giving them mobile phones to play games and we must benefit from the positive uses of technology”.

Later, Dr Nizamuddin distributed book lover awards amongst top 10 PU Library users who read maximum number of books last year amongst library members. The first prize went to Prof Dr Ghulam Moeen Uddin of Department of Persian. Shehrary Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Zahid, Maleeha Rafiq, Zoha Khalique, Rubina Liaqat, Nourin Haneef, Imran Mushtaq, Ghulam Qadar and Ayesha Azam secured from second to tenth positions, respectively.

complex cases: The Punjab AIDS Control Programme organised a special session for epidemiologists, HIV/AIDS experts, molecular biologists/virologists and psychologists with renowned international consultant and researcher on HIV/AIDs Dr Mobeen Rathore at the PACP Complex here on Thursday.

According to a handout issued here, Professor Dr Mobin Rathore is MD, director and associate Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Centre for HIV/AIDS Research, University of Florida, and is director, Community Engagement Research Programme besides serving as diplomat on American Board of Pediatrics as well as American Board of Infectious Diseases.

The visiting scholar agreed to Punjab request for technical support regarding treatment of complex cases and also agreed to give free access to Grand HIV rounds in the USA besides agreeing for support and collaboration in HIV/AIDS research.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Additional Secretary (Admin) and PACP Programme Director Dr Adnan Zafar Khan said learning the best global practices was the key to stopping new infections and achieving the global goals of 90-90-90.

“In every part of the world, there are different sets of challenges vis-à-vis modes of transmission and strategies have to be locally tailored. The initiatives to reach out to vulnerable and most-at-risk populations, IT solutions especially GIS mapping and mobile text follow-up are some of the most innovative solutions exclusively being used in Punjab,” Dr Mobeen said. 

In the question-answer session, Dr Mobin Rathore said,” Stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS patients have been a global phenomenon but now the realisation is there that like diabetes and blood pressure, people can live normal lives by using certain medicines.”