ISLAMABAD: The effective role of universities urged for promotion of book reading culture, knowledge creation and dissemination in a seminar on the topic of “Role of Universities in Promoting Book Culture” organised by Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) at Pak-China Friendship Centre in the federal capital. The event was organised in connection with 7th National Book Day Festival. The main speakers included Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Qasim Bughio, renowned scholar Prof Dr Najeeb Jamal from Islamia University Bahawalpur, American Institute of Pakistan Studies, Islamabad Director Nadeem Akber, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad Advisor Javed Zafar, National Institute of Historical and Culture Research Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Senior Research Fellow Dr Sajid Mehmood Awan and IUCPSS National Coordinator Muhammad Murtaza Noor. They also suggested use of modern technology and innovative methods to motivate the youth towards book reading. Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Qasim Bughio stressed the need to pay special attention towards improving the university libraries through purchase of new books and encouraging access of the students. He was of the view that the universities should also play their vital role for creation and dissemination of knowledge. Each university should have a publishing facility in this regard.