Celebrities, public representatives, citizens throng IBF

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that the organisers of the International Book Fair (IBF) are praise worthy.

"This is the last century of the books. Absorb the fragrance of the printed books before they disappear," he said in emotional tone while visiting the 18th IBF Karachi on Sunday.

Caretaker Information Minister Ahmed Shah said IBF has taken the city by storm. Hundreds and thousands of people are visiting the book fair. "I came on Saturday and am back on Sunday too. The book fair indicates a positive trend which should continue," Shah said talking to the media at the 18th IBF under way at the Expo Centre.

Siddiqui said the rush at the book fair shows the love of the people of Karachi for knowledge, wisdom and literature. In response to a question, he said that he mostly reads books on social sciences. He also visited the stall set up for the visually impaired and assured his full support. Ahmed Shah said he reads wide range of books on arts and Urdu, English literature, philosophy and fiction.

Read Book fair registers footfall of over 400,000 visitors

Record-breaking rush

All previous records of visitors coming to the IBF Karachi were broken with a footfall 150,000 on Sunday.

Monday will be the last day of the five-day book fair. There was also a mobile service of mineral water for students and citizens on behalf of Al-Khidmat foundation at the World Book Fair. The arrival of political, religious, academic, literary, lawyers, judges and other personalities at IBF continued throughout the day. Publishers and booksellers also gave special discounts on books for citizens on Sunday.

Book launches and seminars continued during the five-day event. Citizens who came to the IBF said the enjoyed discounts and found books on vast array of subjects including children's books available at the same venue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2023.