LAHORE: Renowned spiritual leader, author and TV personality Sarfraz Shah inaugurated Pakistan’s largest three-day book fair organised by Punjab University administration at the corridors of Institute of Education and Research on Thursday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Registrar Prof Dr Liaqat Ali, PU Law College Principal Dr Shazia Naureen Quresi, Institute of Education and Research Director Prof Dr Mumtaz Akhter, deans, senior journalists and intellectuals including Dr Mujahid Ali Mansoori, Irshad Ahmad Arif, Salman Ghani, Taufiq Butt, Dr Ajmal Niazi, Najam Wali Khan, Sajjad Mir, Hafeezullah Niazi, Sofia Baidar, Mian Habib, faculty members, students and people from all walks of life were present on the occasion. After inaugurating the book fair, Sarfaraz Shah along with distinguished participants visited various stalls and lauded the efforts of PU administration for providing books on discounted rates. Talking to media, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran called upon the government to subsidise books in order to promote reading habits in the country. He said that presence of books in every house would promote reading habits among children as well. He said that Muslims were facing problems due to their distance from books, adding that development in technology had not reduced the importance of books rather according to facts and figures, the number of printed books had increased worldwide. He said that reading books groomed consciousness and it was a must to read books to create new knowledge. Senior professor of mass communication Prof Dr Mujahid Mansoori said that despite the emerging importance of electronic media, books had a pivotal role to play in formation of a society and commended the efforts of PU administration in organising such a mega event to promote reading habits. Senior journalist Irshad Ahmed Arif said that books were important in the lives of nations and societies. He said that the societies that were interested in books would advance towards bright future while holding their pasts. He said that it was a nice effort by PU administration to make relationship of society with books stronger and PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran deserved a huge applause in this regard. Senior journalist Salman Ghani said that organising such a mega book fair was a service to the nation, adding that book was a source of bringing positive change in society besides keeping them alive. “We need such types of books today which could promote unity and tolerance in our society. Due to our distance from books, extremism and terrorism has been promoted, which created hurdles in the progress of our country. Being Muslims, we were associated with a book and we must follow for our salvation,” he added. Senior columnist Taufeeq Butt said that after seeing a huge number of teachers, students and people from all walks of life in the book fair, the impression that Internet had reduced the importance of book did not seem true. He said when there was no Internet or any other such facility, major inventions were made on the basis of books. He said PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran had brought PU to the new heights in the world by promoting such academic activities in PU. Renowned columnist Dr Ajmal Niazi said that the book fair was a proof that there was a strong connection between books and young people. He said that people still loved books and that’s why they were taking great interest in the fair. He said that books were like houses and we must live in this house. Senior TV anchor Najam Wali Khan said that it was a mega event of its nature and we could connect society with books by providing books at discounted price. On the first day of the book fair, a large number of people thronged bookstalls and purchased books of their interest on reasonable rates. The book fair would conclude tomorrow.