Hasan Abdal celebrates love for books

The love for books is a common trait among successful people worldwide, no matter the advancements in technology, the significance of a traditional paper-bound book cannot be undermined, said Hasan Abdal Assistant Commissioner Dr Sana Ramchand.

She was addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day book fair organised by Sir Syed Educational Foundation Pakistan the other day.

She also emphasised the pivotal role of reading in human development.

Prominent political and social figures, including Sardar Zulfiqar Hayat Khan, Qazi Zahoorul Haq Raja, Noor Muhammad Nizami, Javed Iqbal Afgar, Muhammad Shahid Awan, and Col. Shafaat Khan were also present. Famous publishers and writers nationwide had set up stalls in the fair.

A large number of students from all over the region and people from different walks of life expressed their interest in the book fair and bought books. Several writers and poets attended the book fair while book publishing companies including, the National Book Foundation, GABA Publishers, Academy Adbiyat and Moqtadara National Language participated in the event.

Among the books included in the fair were Urdu, Punjabi, Saraiki, and Pashto language books besides poetry, literature, history, science, and Information Technology related books.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ramchand said that there is a trend of book reading in developing nations around the world but we have reduced the love for books which is due to various other factors including parents do not encourage their children to read books.

She said that educational institutions should pay attention to textbooks as well as books on different interests and focus on children’s reading and comprehension skills while discouraging the rote learning system. The future of Pakistan is in the hands of the young generation who should go ahead and play their role in the betterment of this country, she said.

Other speakers also appreciated the efforts of President Sir Syed Educational Foundation Pakistan Tahir Mahmood Durrani and other organisers for setting the book fair. The two-day book fair concluded on Friday.