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World Book Day
Govt to launch mobile libraries to promote book culture: Dr Nizamuddin

World Book Day
Govt to launch mobile libraries to promote book culture: Dr Nizamuddin


LAHORE: (Thursday, April 20, 2017): Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Nizamuddin has said that PHEC would launch mobile libraries project to promote book reading culture and this facility would be also provided in remote areas as well. He was addressing a seminar organized by Punjab University Department of Information Management and Punjab University Library in connection with celebrations of World Book and Copyright Day at Al Raazi Hall here on Thursday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir, renowned journalist Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Chairperson Department of Information Management Prof Dr Kanwal Amin, Chief Librarian Haseeb Paracha, President Academic Staff Association Javed Sami, Secretary Iftikhar Tarrar, Director General PHEC Shahid Soroya, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the seminar, Dr Nizamuddin said that it was a misconception that the number of publication of books had reduced due to electronic media rather electronic media was supplementing print media. He said that the number of publication of books was increasing globally however it was necessary to promote book reading habits. He said that we must connect our students with history through promotion of book reading culture so that we could understand background of happenings. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir said that the incumbent PU administration was taking several initiatives to promote book reading culture on campus. He said that every student would have to write book reviews of 10 relevant course books in each semester otherwise they would not get their degrees. He said that the administration would set up library in each hostel and a library would also be established in campus colony for children. He said that the university would award special prize to the person who would write maximum book reviews and the university would also consider the person who would read maximum books for the roll of honor. He said that our multinational companies must come forward to promote book reading culture and fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. He announced that the administration would organize book fair from April 27 to April 29. Senior journalist Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami said that our relationship with book had weakened and there was need to find out reasons behind it. He said that mohallah-level libraries had vanished and universities had turned into colleges where there was lack of creation of new knowledge. He said that the real problem was that we don’t have reading habits. He said that we must establish strong link between students and books. Prof Dr Fakhrul Haq Noori said that book was source of knowledge and guidance. He said that technology was promoting E-books and the real challenge was that we must have book reading habits. He said that book reading habits were very strong in advanced countries so technology must not be blamed for our distance from books. Dr Kanwal Amin said that E-books had not replaced printed books rather electronic media was complementing and supporting printed editions. She said that the role of books was increasing and that’s why number of publication of books had increased manifold worldwide and the importance of printed books had not reduced. She said that the traditional value of books would remain alive forever and we must not worry about it because books were major source of transfer of knowledge. However, she said, there was a dire need to promote book reading habits. She said that we must give books to our children instead of giving them mobile phones to play games and we must benefit from the positive uses of technology. Later, PHEC Chairman Dr Nizam uddin and PHEC distributed book lover awards amongst top 10 PU Library users who read maximum number of books last year amongst library members. The first prize went to Prof Dr Ghulam Moeen Uddin of Department of Persian. Shehrary Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Zahid, Maleeha Rafiq, Zoha Khalique, Rubina Liaqat, Nourin Haneef, Imran Mushtaq, Ghulam Qadar and Ayesha Azam secured from 2nd the 10th positions respectively.