Book leads to peace: Three-day National Book Day kick off today

Variety of programmes, segments part of the festival.

The fifth National Book Day festival will kick off at the Pak-China Friendship Centre on Tuesday at 11am. The opening ceremony will start with school children’s ‘book parade’, ‘book anthem’, hoisting of ‘book flag’ and oath-taking ceremony renewing their pledge to promote reading culture.

Federal Minister for Information and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid will be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, said a press release. A large number of youth, students, educationists, writers and poets, and people from all walks of life are expected to attend the gala.

The three-day event was conceived and introduced by Mazharul Islam, an internationally acclaimed short-story writer, novelist, folklorist and former Director-General of National Book Foundation (NBF).

The current NBF chief, Dr Inamul Haq Javed who is also a man of letters, has continued the good tradition and format of the programme.

The event aims to promote book reading and literacy besides providing an opportunity for all to buy books at discounted price.

An important segment of the opening day will be an evening with writer Ataul Haq Qasmi.

On the second day of the event, special programme will be arranged with legendary actor, narrator and teacher Zia Mohiyuddin in the segment of “Live with Legend” at 7pm where he will present the history of literature from classical to contemporary literature. Many sessions such as peace conference, dialogue on human rights, “Qissa Khawani of folk stories”,“Kitaab Kahani”, “Overseas Pakistanis writers’ corner”, “Aik pal-Multiple”, “Big book reading”,“ “Book Walk”, “Book Castle”, “Chaaey-Khana”, “Model Library”, “Space Technology programmes”, “Brail Books”, “Lucky Book Draw”, “Video Display”, “Language Laboratory”, “Youthful Book Session”, “Gogi Show” and “Book Ambassadors’ Conference” are part of the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.