The country’s biggest three-day `National Book Fair 2017’ will start here at Pak-China Friendship Center on Saturday (Today) under the theme “Kitab, Zindagi, Umeeed, Roshni’, to mark National Book Day.
President Mamnoon Hussain will inaugurate the mega book fair, while Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana and ministers from all provinces will participate in the fair. The arrangements for 8th National Book Fair have been finalized by National Book Foundation (NBF) under the supervision of National History and Literary Heritage (NHLH) Division, featuring a number of book related activities to provide entertainment and knowledge to the book lovers.
Renowned literary figures, book ambassadors, book lovers, prominent writers, poets, artists, students and scholars will participate in the book fair. Over 100 book-sellers and publishers will set up their stalls carrying books on various disciplines according to the interest of people of all ages while the visitors will get 50 percent discount on purchasing the books.
The three-day book fair will feature various activities like book reading sessions, seminar on important literary topics, intellectual sessions and ghazal programme by Overseas Pakistanis, dialogue on fiction, prose and poetry, plays, book parade, book flag hoisting, book anthem, grand book fair, lucky book draw, readers book club stall, mobile book shop, model library, motorway police desk, exhibition of memorable tickets, mobile science lab, discussion sessions, Pakistan Air Force stall, calligraphy exhibition, syllabus making workshop and other many activities.
Launching ceremonies of various books including `Pathar Chehrey’, `House of Loneliness and other Stories’, Parwaz-i-Huma, `Riyaaz-i-Sukhan and `China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Pakistani economy’ will be held during the book fair. Special programmes for children including Kids republic and lucky draw will also be the part of the book fair.
NBF Managing Director Dr Inam-ul-Haq Javed said the programmes for National Book Fair were prepared on the special directives of Advisor to Prime Minister on NHLH Irfan Siddiqui with emphasis on promotion of book reading culture and giving message of national harmony and solidarity to the people.
He hoped that a record number of people would participate in the book fair to quench their thirst for knowledge like last year and get maximum benefit from this activity, highlighting the message of love for knowledge and book. He said last year more than 1,000,00 book lovers participated in the three-day annual book activity and books worth Rs 20 million were sold out.