LAHORE: The University of Management and Technology (UMT) held its annual book fair here on Tuesday as on the first day around 10,000 students belonging to different educational institutions visited the book fair.
The book fair was inaugurated by renowned journalist and Pakistan Cricket Board Executive Committee Chairman Najam Sethi, whereas faculty members and official staff were also present on the occasion.
At the fair, stalls were set up by more than 60 local and international publishers. Books belonging to different categories, including fiction, novel, poetry, religious, curriculum and several others were displayed at the stalls. Publishers including Oxford, Atlas, Allied, Absco, Elan Vital, Second Wind, Knowledge bank, Kims, Book Orchard, Aryan and others set up their stalls offering 25 to 40% overall discount.
Speaking to the media, Sethi said that he always enjoyed visiting book fairs as they offer real analysis of everyday life. He said books are the primary source to increase knowledge and sharpen vision. He asked the government to reduce prices of books and bringing them in the reach of all and sundry. He said the government time and again granted subsidy on sugar but ignored books, which he thought was critical for improving literacy.
Sethi asked students to develop sharp reading habits and befriend with books as they connect them with the world of wisdom. He said Pakistanis are peace-loving nation and they are keen on literature but regrettably, the external world forcefully hooks them up with extremism and terrorism, which is not true at all.
The book fair will conclude tomorrow in evening.