PU Book Fair 2011 ends

Thousands of people from different walks of life, especially students, visited the Punjab University Book Fair 2011 on its third and last day at the varsity’s New Campus on Saturday. PPP General Secretary Jahangir Badr, former provincial minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Provincial Education Minister Mian Mujtba Shuja-ur-Rehman, renowned anchorperson, Mubashar Luqman, Amjad Islam Amjad, columnist, Dr Ajmal Niazi, IG Prisons Kaukab Nadeem Warraich, Syed Noor, Raja Munawar, research scholars, faculty members and a large number of students from various schools bought books of their interest. As many as 15,000 books on the first day and 18,000 books on the second day of the fair were sold.
PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said the purpose of organizing the book fair was to promote book-reading in society and to ensure the provision of books on discounted rates. He suggested allocating at least four percent of the national income to education. The PPP general secretary praised the PU administration for organising this book fair and for providing books on discounted prices. He called for eliminating disparity in the education system. He appreciated the education-friendly policies of PU VC. He stressed the need to increase scholarship programs and said people coming from foreign countries would have to be provided opportunities to serve the country.
Amjad Islam Amjad said research culture must be promoted in the country because the nations who did not focus on research lagged behind. He said the country’s heritage was found in books. Dr Ajmal Niazi said that creation was based on two things; the teacher and the book. He said such positive activities must be continued to keep the book culture alive.