Pakistan participates in Bangkok International Book Fair

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Pakistan is participating in the 10th Bangkok International Book Fair, being held at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre from 29 March to 8 April 2012.
The book fair has been organised by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT). Besides Thais, other participants include Asian Pacific Publishers Association (APPA), ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA), and Asian, European and American publishing houses and related organisations.
Mazhar-ul-Islam, managing director, National Book Foundation (NBF), is representing Pakistan at the Book Fair 2012 and its related events.
A set of representative books on Pakistan, including those published by NBF, have been displayed, covering a range of subjects such as Indus Valley civilisation, Buddhist Gandhara, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan movement, places of historic and tourist interest, and Pakistan’s history, culture, art and literature. The international book fair was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. While visiting the Fair Halls, she stopped at the APPA booth where Pakistani books are on display.
Mazhar ul Islam presented a set of books on Pakistan to Princess Sirindhorn, including ‘Reconciliation – Islam, Democracy and the West’ authored by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Earlier, on 28 March, the NBF managing director, participated in a conference titled ‘Digital Impact on the Traditional Book Publishing and Printing in Asia and the Pacific’ and shared Pakistan’s perspectives on the subject.
Among other things, while welcoming the advent of new technologies in book publishing and increasing trend towards e-books, Mazhar-ul-Islam stressed the importance of also retaining the ages-old tradition of books.
On the sidelines of the fair, MD Mazhar-ul-Islam has been meeting publishers from Thailand and the Southeast Asia region to exchange views on possibilities of mutual collaboration.
In his comments, Ambassador of Pakistan to Thailand Sohail Mahmood underscored the importance of Pakistan’s participation in the Bangkok International Book Fair, noting that it had enabled book publishing industry in the country to showcase books. He also lauded the important role being played by the National Book Foundation.
He added that participation in the event would also contribute to efforts by both sides to strengthen the people-to-people relationship between Pakistan and Thailand.

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