World Book and Copyright Day marked

Islamabad: Like other parts of the globe, World Book and Copyright Day was marked in Pakistan on Monday.

The day is annually observed on April 23 to mark the anniversary of the birth or death of a range of well-known writers, including Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Maurice Druon, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Haldor Kiljan Laxness, Manuel Mejía Vallejo, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and William Shakespeare.

For this reason, UNESCO''s General Conference chose this date to pay tribute to books, the authors who wrote them, and the copyright laws that protect them. People of all ages appreciated books and their authors on World Book and Copyright Day.

A range of activities promoted reading and the cultural aspects of books held all over the world. Many of these emphasised international cooperation or friendships between countries. Events included relay readings of books and plays; the distribution of bookmarks; the announcement of the winners of literary competitions; and actions to promote the understanding of laws on copyright and the protection of authors'' intellectual property.

World Book and Copyright Day an occasion to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors and to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. It is hoped that this will lead to the renewed respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress.