Rotary Darakhshan to contribute in promotion of library, reading culture

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) has pledged to contribute its bit in the promotion of library and reading culture in the country as a part of initiatives aimed at improving literacy and creating more employment. 

“Engagement of youth in healthy activities is of paramount importance. We have to facilitate this segment of the society in particular in order to get the best out of them. And there can’t be a more suitable place than a library and a more impacting activity than reading books for them,” Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, RCKD, observed during his speech in the seminar on the subject of ‘Revival of Library Culture in Pakistan’ which was organized by the National Library Association (NLA) during the 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) which concluded at the Karachi Expo Centre on January 3. 

Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, RCKD, and a former Governor of Rotary International’s District 3271, added that their club has a history of supporting literary activities and they will continue doing it by different means to achieve the cherished goal of bringing about positive changes in the society.

“As Rotarians our motto is Service Above Self and we are committed to play more proactive role in segments which are of greater significance to the people in general. Urging people to read and facilitating them in letting them read feature prominently in our list of priorities,” he pointed out. 

RCKD, which has supported book launch events besides other such activities, including the one just a few weeks ago, has planned to honour eminent library and literary figures later this month for which a formal announcement is expected after their board meeting around January 10.

KIBF concludes, NLA shines

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

After creating buzz and excitement in the metropolis for the past five days on a trot, the 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) came to an end at the Karachi Expo Centre late on the evening of January 3. 

It was quite extraordinary to watch the large turnout every day and evening despite the extremely cold weather from the Karachi standards. 

Some quarters were skeptical about the success of the event because of the phenomenal rise in the positivity rate of the latest wave of COVID-19 but the bookworms appeared least bothered by the fears of pandemic and they went about their business of visiting the fair with tremendous enthusiasm. 

Since the KIBF was being held after a gap of two years, following the cancellation of the event last year due to COVID-19 related issues, there also were some concerns about people having distanced themselves from physical books but, by turning up in huge numbers, all such apprehensions remained just fiction, not facts. 

Long queues of people of all age groups, wearing face masks, as it was compulsory to get in, and the packed parking lots and the packed service roads around the Expo Centre dispelled the impression of the people having lost their love for books. 

As witnessed in the past, it was a very well attended exhibition with maintenance of all possible protocols. The people of Karachi proved the point once more that they remain passionate about education and reading.

While every stakeholder, stallholder and participant had a reason or two to celebrate the successful KIBF, the one body which stood out was the National Library Association (NLA) which not only set up their stall but managed it exceptionally well for five days to catch the imagination of library professionals and many others.

NLA seminar highlights reading benefits

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The seminar organized by the National Library Association (NLA) during the just concluded 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) at the Karachi Expo Centre highlighted the multiple benefits of reading books and the working librarians were urged to facilitate the readers. 

‘Revival of Library Culture in Pakistan’ was the topic of the seminar in which eminent scholars and educationists shared their thoughts and came up with suggestions to do something concrete in this direction instead of just lip servicing. 

The NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, in his twin speeches on the occasion, drew the attention of the audience towards the huge turnout of bookworms on a Sunday morning at the KIBF which itself was a testimonial of people’s continued reliance on printed copies of books for enhancing knowledge by seeking accurate information instead of relying on digital platforms. 

Renowned journalist, poet and author, Mahmood Sham, who presided over the ceremony, informed the audience that, despite all challenges, there were still a large number of people, spread in different parts of the country, who were prepared to travel places for getting hold of books of their taste and choice. 

Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Khan, chairperson of the Library & Information Science department of the University of Karachi, and two of his predecessors, Prof Dr Malahat Kaleem Sherwani and Prof Dr Munira Nasreen, also enlightened the audience with their observations and suggestions. Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, and Anwar Hussain, Secretary, NLA, were lauded for their efforts in promoting library culture. Younis Hashmi, Information Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks after an enlightening one-hour session.

16th KIBF gets underway with a bang

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The long-awaited 16th edition of the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) finally got underway on December 30 and it was off to a sensational start. Hours before the five-day annual was formally inaugurated in afternoon, there were long queues of school students, mostly dressed in tidy uniforms, who swarmed to access the three halls of the Karachi Expo Centre since 10 am when the gates were opened. 

The KIBF 2021 was already in motion, and in full swing, when the Sindh Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, declared it open after presiding over a largely attended inauguration ceremony in which Anwar Maqsood, the famous playwright, was the keynote speaker. 

The National Library Association (NLA) was represented in the KIBF opening ceremony by its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, besides a few other senior members. 

Aziz Khalid, President, Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA), Southern Zone, in his welcome address, recalled the history of the KIBF as to how it was conceived after watching a book fair take place at New Delhi, India, in 2004. He touched upon the modest beginning of the KIBF and its evolution in the following years, incorporating the templates of success stories from book fairs at Frankfurt and London. 

Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, a former provincial senior minister, in his speech on the occasion, described the KIBF as one of the most significant events of the national calendar and he complimented the local publishers and booksellers for ensuring the availability of books at reasonable prices despite the inflation and other uncontrollable factors. 

Anwar Maqsood lived upto his huge reputation of entertaining and simultaneously enlightening the audience with his witty remarks which were generously applauded. As always, he enlivened the proceedings and charmed everyone on the occasion, including the dignitaries occupying the stage. 

Fatema Hassan, a prominent poet, didn’t mince words in stating that the book culture was here to stay despite the arrival of digital gadgets and other sources of recreation. She was of the opinion that the success of the KIBF was a testimonial of the people’s belief in books which were still doing good business. 

Lastly the chief guest, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, committed to take up the matter of slashing taxes on import of paper for the purpose of educational books to the federal government while he also agreed to take action for activating libraries in the schools and colleges, as requested by the PPBA Southern Zone Chairman. 

The vote of thanks was proposed by the KIBF Convener, Waqar Mateen Khan, in which he acknowledged the support of his team members in making the event successful. In the end awards were presented to some of the publishers and booksellers in recognition of their services to the trade.

NLA’s participation adds value to KIBF

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The active participation of the National Library Association (NLA) will add value to the 15th edition of the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) which is set to be inaugurated at the Karachi Expo Centre on December 30. 

The five-day annual event will conclude on January 3. The office-bearers of the NLA, the leading representative body of working librarians of the country, have been proactively promoting the KIBF, reaching out the masses through their members at various institutions and persuading them to visit the event in order to get hold of the latest books at heavily discounted prices. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, remained upbeat about the success of the KIBF, which is being organized after a gap of two years because of the pandemic of COVID-19 which rocked the entire world from the early months of last year. 

“The people of Karachi, particularly bookworms, eagerly await the KIBF every year. More visitors than ever before in the 15-year-old history of the KIBF could be expected this time round because this event could not take place last year to COVID-19,” the NLA President remarked in a brief chat with PNFS on December 28. 

He thanked the functionaries of the Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA) for having renewed their understanding with the NLA for the promotion of the KIBF. The NLA delegation had also included its Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, which recently met the PPBA Chairman, Southern Zone, Aziz Khalid and the KIBF Convenor, Waqar Mateen Khan.

NLA to join hands with KIBF

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) has decided to join hands with the management of the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) in holding the event now rescheduled to be held at the Karachi Expo Centre from December 30 to January 3. 

A delegation of the NLA, headed by its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, will soon be meeting the top functionaries of the KIBF to formally volunteer its services for the biggest book event of the country which is being organized after a gap of two years. The NLA desires to play its role in engaging the librarians more actively at the KIBF. 

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Association held in Karachi on November 13. It was presided over by the NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador of the KIBF, which is organized annually by the Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA), since 2005.

“As the truly representative body of the working librarians, the NLA finds itself in a good position to promote the KIBF in its fraternity to achieve our mutual goal of spreading book culture in our country,” the NLA Secretary, Anwar Hussain, remarked. 

Meanwhile the NLA, which had come into existence four years ago, has decided to commence the publication its monthly newsletter from the next month and its inaugural issue is set to be launched during the upcoming KIBF. 

Nasir Mustafa, associated with Dawn Media Group for a number of years, has been appointed the editor of the NLA Newsletter while the editorial team would be finalized soon. 

The Information Secretary of the NLA, Younis Hashmi, briefed the meeting about his last visit to Canada a few months ago during which he contacted quite a few library professionals of the Pakistan origin to solicit support for the Association. 

Hira Yaseen, Nasir Nayab, Farheen Mahmood, Huma Mannan Butt, Syeda Najma Sultana, Muhammad Sultan Ali and Abu Bakar Ghori were the other NLA members present in the meeting which lasted around a couple of hours.

Murad Ali Shah inaugurates KIBF 2019

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The 15th Karachi International Book Fair 2019 got underway at the Karachi Expo Centre on a hazy morning of December 5 but there was plenty of action inside the three gigantic halls, attracting a large number of people. The event will continue until December 9.

It’s the 15th edition of the international book fair in Karachi, being organized by the local chapter of the Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBSA) with the collaboration of the National Book Foundation (NBF). 

Having been launched in 2005, it has gone on to become an important cultural event of the city. The 15th KIBF 2019 was inaugurated by the Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, whose speech on the occasion was telecast live by the various television channels. 

His assurance that the provincial government would take every possible step to enhance reading habits across the province was viewed with skepticism because of the dubious record of the various governmental organizations working under his command. 

The Chief Minister, however, was spot on while having observed the gradual decline in reading the habit among younger generations which indeed was reflected, as pointed out by him, that there was hardly any youngster attending the ceremony itself which he was addressing. 

He reckoned that efforts be made to revive our old culture of finding best books in the shelves of libraries, in the corners of bookstores, on the push-carts and footpaths. 

Murad Ali Shah recalled his student days at the iconic NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, where he and his classmates used to visit the library on a regular basis. 

He even correctly recalled the name of the then librarian (Habib Saheb) of the 1980s at the NED University who worked very efficiently with his team to facilitate the students. 

The Chief Minister didn't mince words in declaring that he still derived more pleasure and satisfaction by reading a hard copy rather than its soft copy despite the availability of all kinds of modern gadgets like Ipads, laptops and tablets.

8th Karachi International Book Fair 2012 to be held from December 6 to 10

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) The Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA), with the collaboration of the National Book Foundation (NBF), will be once again organizing the country’s largest book trade event, the Karachi International Book Fair 2012, from December 6 to 10 at the Karachi Expo Centre with Event and Conference International (Pvt.) Ltd being the event managers. The annual KIBF has continued to provide an exclusive opportunity to reach out to citizens and bookworms in Pakistan’s largest city and the trade hub of the country besides facilitating the international publishers to interact with the local industry specialists in order to explore business possibilities in this highly potential market.  This premier book trade event of Pakistan brings together domestic and international publishers, booksellers, librarians and institutional customers. The KIBF creates an excellent opportunity to the readers to view and purchase the best of the local and foreign books and publications at discounted prices. The growing participation of the exhibitors and the rising number of visitors every year has been the testimonials for the success of the KIBF over the years. “It is encouraging that the number of exhibitors at the KIBF is increasing every year. This clearly indicates that the object of holding such kind of events is highly appreciated by the book lovers of our country,” a member of the organizing committee remarked.  “The number of stalls is limited and the booking is being entertained on ‘first come first serve’ basis. We have advised the potential exhibitors to complete the Application Form and forward it to us along with participation charges as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience and disappointment,” the KIBF official stated.  The rates for the three by three square-meter stall would be Rs 43,000 for the national exhibitors and US $ 800 for the international exhibitors.  Meanwhile the KIBF, as in the past, will be setting up an exclusive arena for staging book launch ceremonies with the authors.

Souls Unshackled to be launched at KIBF on December 17

Paramount Publishing Enterprise will launch another unique title in two languages which is a story of a young prisoner, who has completed his education while facing charges connected to the murder of a local boy in Swat.

The launching ceremony will be taking place at 4 pm on December 17 in the Hall Number 2 of the Expo Centre where the 7th Karachi International Book Fair 2011 is being held with great fanfare.

The book is being launched in two languages. While the edition in English has been titled ‘Souls Unshackled’ the book in Urdu has been named ‘Na Qafus Na Ashiyana.’

Dr Masuma Hasan,. Chairperson, Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA), and a former Ambassador, will be the chief guest in the launching ceremony to be presided over by Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, Former Inspector General of Police, Sindh.

A large number of intellectuals, media professionals and the industry leaders are expected to grace the launch of a harrowing and heroic autobiographical account of a prisoner.

(Jumbo Publishing. Com)