Children’s Literature Festival: ‘Promoting literature will help set up vibrant society’

Archives secretary says sustainable efforts key to build society on equality

BAHAWALPUR: Sustainable efforts to promote literature for children is the key to build a vibrant infrastructure which is vital for establishing a society based on equality.

Archives Secretary Ahmad Raza Sarwar said this while speaking as a chief guest at the opening ceremony of Children’s Literature Festival on Saturday evening. In this regard, he lauded the services of Bahawalpur DCO Dr Ehtisham Anwer Mahar for promoting cultural and literary activities.

Mahar maintained the district administration will introduce book reading from class five in all schools of the district which would institutionalise the habit of book reading among the students. “An Oxford University Press (OUP) section has been established by the district administration at the historic central library which would extend reading facilities for both adults and children,” he said.



OUP Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said their organisation had established Oxford Teachers’ Academy which will provide training to at least 50,000 teachers annually regarding modern teaching techniques. She claimed OUP attaches special significance to promote reading habit among the children.

A prominent writer, Romana Hussain, gave detailed briefing on the main purpose of holding literary festival. A student of SD High School, Abdullah Tanseer, presented a song written by Zohra Nigar and composed by Rakhi Jameel.

Eventful evening

On the first day of the festival, a wide range of activities covering various features were held which included tableaus by the students of various schools entitled ‘Bol Kay Lub Azad Hain Teray’ and ‘Child Abuse’. The first day also featured story-telling, story writing, puppet show and a session on the importance of books and libraries.

While expressing views on Children’s Literature Festival, Minister of State for Higher Education and Interior Baleeghur Rehman said the event would play a vital role in promoting intellectual enlightenment and talent among the children.

He said books are considered man’s best friend and help in promoting knowledge based polity. He further said literature festival provided a unique opportunity to the children to meet the literary joints and to listen to their literary work.

He maintained the government was mobilising all available resources to formulate education policy through effective consultation of provinces.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2016.