The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) has decided to hold National Book Fair with reference to “International Book Day”. This day is celebrated on April 23 internationally and April 22 nationally.
Besides exhibition of books, a number of other activities like Mushairas, folk music and seminars are also planned to be held to enhance the atmosphere of the festivity.
This was stated by Abdul Hameed, PAL Chairman, while addressing a press conference here at PAL.
The chairman said it was a deplorable fact that culture of book reading was deteriorating day-by-day in the society and the prices of books were getting higher unduly broadening gap between readers and reading material.
People’s distance with book and reading is one of the main causes of uncivilized behaviors and extremist thinking patterns prevailed in the society. It is the need of time to promote book culture and help the book market flourish to tackle violent fundamentalism. The PAL has a tradition of arranging national book fairs since last some years. This year the national book festival will start on 16th April and will go on till 20 April 2012.
A large number of publishers from all over the country will participate in the fair and display their books.
The chairman said that to make participation of readers in the book fair exclusive PAL has particularly invited people from various walks of life and different age groups, and also requested universities, colleges & schools to encourage students to attend this five day activity.
Along with publishers some leading NGO’s will also set up their stalls in the book fair to avail the opportunity to reach a large gathering of educated public from all age groups under one roof.
He said, the book fair gives not only readers a chance to buy books on cheep/concessional prices but also provide the publishers with an opportunity to directly get aware of readers’ demands and trends.
The chairman announced the schedule of the activities during the five day national book fair which includes opening ceremony by Federal Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on 16th at 11:00 am mushaira on 17th at 4:00 pm. Tauseef Tabassum will preside over the event while Sajjad Babar from Peshawar and Sultan Sakoon from Abbotabad will be the chief guests. Folk music will be arranged in collaboration with Punjabi Adabi Parchar on 18th at 4:00 pm. Ghulam Shabbir from Chiniot, Irfanullah Sagir from Multan, Kamran Essa Khailivi from Mianwali and Muhammad Imran (violinist) will perform.
A special activity with the title Gosha-i-Musannaf (Author‘s Corner) is also scheduled to be arranged during the fair.
