More than 330 stalls booked; 500,000 visitors expected during five-day event

Author: Staff Report

KARACHI: The Managing Committee of Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) has revealed that 33 exhibitors from 10 countries are going to participate directly and representation from 7 countries in the 13th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF).

A five-day 13th Karachi International Book Fair 2017, organized by Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association, which will commence from Thursday 7th December at the Karachi Expo Centre.

Nasir Hussain Shah Minister for Information, Labour and Transport Sindh will inaugurate the Fair as Guest of Honour.

Karachi International Book Fair is now Pakistan’s largest consumer fair. The event brings many publishing and distribution houses together with domestic and international publishers, booksellers, librarians and institutional customers. Publishers from Iran, India, Turkey, Singapore, China, Malaysia, England, UAE and other countries are attending the international event.

These views were expressed by Convener 13th KIBF, Mr. Owais Mirza Jamil and Mr. Aziz Khalid, Chairman of Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association while speaking at a press conference, held at a local hotel here on Tuesday, 05 December, 2017.

They expressed their gratitude to the publishers and booksellers for their participation in the fair and hoped that, this year as in the, past record breaking number of visitors shall participate in the 13th Karachi International Book Fair.

Convener of the KIBF, Owais Mirza Jamil said that the, book fair will be held in hall number 1, 2 and 3 in Karachi Expo Centre. All genres of books on all topics will be displayed in over 330 stalls for five days from December 07 – 11, 2017.

Mr. Ejaz Shah, Advisor-Business Development-KIBF, stressed that this edition will be remarkable and distinctive as efforts are being made to establish effective working relationship with key International Book Fairs leading towards an exchange of professional expertise for highlighting the importance of Book Fairs at national and international level. “Fairs are not only book exhibits any more, international book fairs are very important forums not only for publishers but also for the government agencies/missions as an effective tool for Diplomacy”, he elaborated. “Also underlined is the commitment to the propagation of knowledge by highlighting the values of humanism and ethics that promote tolerance, discussions and openness to others in a civilized society.”

KIBF aims to motivate the nation’s youth and students to take part in cultural and creative activities to strengthen their role as pillars of an intellectually, scientifically, literary-wise and culturally flourishing future.

Mr. Aziz Khalid Chairman Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA) said that “Around 500,000 people are expected to visit the 13th KIBF. The event will be visited by book lovers, students from all groups and ages, professionals from all walks of life, academicians, writers, librarians and general public. Various book launchings and book release ceremonies will also be held for notable writers during the fair besides entertaining various contests like drawing, recitation, extempore speech, and quiz for kids.

Book Fair timings are 10 am to 9 pm daily from Thursday, 07 December, till Monday, 11 December, 2017. Deputy Convener Waqar Mateen Khan, Nadeem Mazhar, M. Iqbal Gaziani, Iqbal Saleh Mohammad, Syed Asghar Zaidi Nadeem Akhtar, Kamran Noorani, Saleem Abdul Hussain and Syed Nasir Hussain also attended the Press conference.

The 13th Karachi International Book Fair begins on Thursday 07 December with doors opening to the public at 1:00 pm, and on other days until 11 December from 10 am to 9 pm.

Published in Daily Times, December 6^th2017.