21st anniversary: DHA Library celebrates with literary musings and book fair
He was one of the speakers at the literary seminar organised on ‘Role of libraries in promoting reading habits in society’ at DCL on Thursday, as part of the three-day book fair which started on the same day. The fair was inaugurated by the DHA administrator, Brig. Muhammad Abdullah.
Regretting that people come up with a number of excuses for not reading books, Salahuddin asked “what would people think of a nation that has such a large population but very few readers.”
“Our relationship with books is very weak and one of the reasons is that we don’t encourage reading habits in our children from an early stage.” Scholar Sardar Muhammad Ashraf said that libraries were not just a place to find books - it’s the place where you find history of the universe. “It’s shameful that an institution is withering away right in front of us while we do nothing,” said Ashraf. He suggested that a public fund should be set up for libraries to increase the number of public libraries across the country. Oxford University Press Managing Director Ameena Saiyid said that books have the ability to open people’s minds.
Saiyid said that people can’t buy all the books published in a year and that is where libraries play an important role.
“You need an education not just to get a job, but to do a job,” said the chief guest, Lt Gen. (Retd) Tanveer Hussain Naqvi. “Libraries are the best place to learn such differences.” Book fairs, he said, is also an engaging way to promote reading. Bookseller, Ali Raza, said that over the years, book fairs have proven to be an effective way of increasing readership.
The book fair at DCL will end today with a Mehfil-e-Mushaira at 8pm.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2012.
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