Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran inaugurated the three-day book fair being organised by the varsity administration in the main corridor of the Institute of Education & Research (IER) at the New Campus on Thursday.
Heads of various departments, faculty members and a large number of students were also present on the occasion. Like the previous three years, the varsity administration is organising the book fair, which will continue until Saturday. The book fair is said to be the largest event of its kind in the country. Afterwards, the VC visited various book stalls and also purchased some books. Talking to journalists, Dr Kamran said that the purpose of organising the book fair was to provide high-quality books on discounted rates to students, teachers and visitors at one place so that book reading could be promoted.
He said that being a teacher, he felt that students lack the required power of expressing skills while book reading could improve their deficiencies by learning new words. Around 150 renowned publishers, booksellers, IT companies and career counselling centres established their stalls to sell local and foreign books with 10 to 50 percent discount. At some stalls, publishers also distributed free books to visitors.
On the first day, a large number of students, children, political, religious and social leaders, renowned journalists, doctors, lawyers and people from all walks of life visited the book fair. Talking to journalists, students said that the book fair had given them an opportunity to purchase curricular and extra-curricular books at low prices and provision of low-priced books, in times of high-inflation, was a proof of the varsity administration’s knowledge-friendly policy.
They said that it is a great platform to promote book reading, which has been declining for the last several decades due to cell phones, Internet and TV. A PU student said that the PU’s Book Fair was popular all over the country and not only teachers and students but visitors also buy books from here. He claimed that the fantastic start of the fair without any untoward incident is an excellent sign for the varsity and its students.
