ISLAMABAD: National Book Foundation kicks off five days 6th National Book Day on 22nd April in Pak-China Friendship Centre, Islamabad. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage inaugurated this cause oriented event. The Ambassador of Turkey in Pakistan, Mr. Sadik Babur Girgin attended this auspicious occasion as Guest of Honour. The significance of this event is to provide the golden opportunities for each one to buy books at discounted prices from the book-stalls establishing there. The only prime purpose of celebrating National Book Day is to inculcate reading habit and promotion of education in Pakistan. Large number of youth, educationists, students, intellectuals, teachers, writers, book-lovers and book ambassadors participated this beautiful Book-Mela.
The Chief Guest, Senator Pervaiz Rahid Minister for Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage expressed his views at this National Book Day and appreciated the splendid efforts of NBF in holding and continuity of the National Book Mela by adding interesting and informative segments. He appraised this event and said that NBF took positive steps in promotion of book culture in the country. The Minister said that the slogan, “Book and peace go together” is really the perception present-age and need of hours in Pakistan. “Promotion of book-culture and inculcation of book reading habit among people can lead us to the motorway of prosperity, progress and development in each field of life”, he said. He further said that image of Pakistan and our nation can be rebuilt and enlightened by creating book reading habit in ourselves and NBF is playing a vital role in this arena.
The Guest of Honour, Ambassador of Turkey in Pakistan, Sadik Babur Girgin said that Turkey and Pakistan has very close and historic brotherly relations between each other. He appreciated the good contributions of Pakistan in promotion of cultural activities and common literature of Pakistan and Turkey among people. The renowned writer and legend of Urdu Literature, Ata ul Haq Qasmi also expressed his views in the opening ceremony and said that being a progressive nation, Pakistanis are taking keen interest in books now a days. Raja Hassan Abbas Secretary, Cabinet Division said at this occasion that NBF has been playing very important and central role in promotion of knowledge, literacy and education in the country for last many years.
Managing Director, National Book Foundation, Dr. Inam ul Haq Javeid delivered his welcome address and highlighted the functions and achievements of Foundation. He said that 6th National Book Day has been celebrating at Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar at same time. He said that NBF has launched different schemes for promotion of book culture and creation of book reading habit including Readers Club Scheme, publication of books on different topics and subjects, developing of new designed textbooks and introducing Mobile Bookshops.