KARACHI, Sept 21: Emboldened by the success of the book bazaar that is held on the lawns of the 18-century Frere Hall every Sunday, the city government has decided to hold book bazaars even on weekdays.

The district officer of the city government’s culture and sports department, Saifur Rahman Grami, told Dawn on Sunday that Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan had, in principle, decided to hold bazaars at various places in the city on weekdays.

He added that efforts were under way to organize books bazaars at Al-Markaz-i-Islami near the Azizabad telephone exchange in Federal B Area, Taimuria Library in North Nazimabad, Central Library in Korangi and City Sports Complex on Kashmir Road.

Mr Grami, who has been associated with the Sunday book bazaar since its inception, said the book bazaar at the Frere Hall would continue to be held.

The weekly book bazaar which is held on the lawns on the Frere Hall opened on Sept 7 after being closed for two weeks.

The Sindh government closed the Sunday book bazaar on Aug 24 at the request of the US consul-general. However, the Karachi Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, revived the bazaar.

About 40 booksellers set up their stalls on the lawns of the Frere Hall every Sunday. Since the Sunday bazaar is the largest selling spot of second-hand books in the city, thousands of book lovers visit it every week, some along with their families. The booksellers organize the book bazaar on a self-help basis by dividing among themselves the expenditure of furniture and electricity.

Mr Grami said the city government would soon start holding literary sittings and book launches at the Frere Hall book bazaar. “As it is, a large number of literary personalities visit the book bazaar every week. They can be requested to speak on a certain subject for the benefit of the youths who also visit the book bazaar on a regular basis. We also plan to organize book- launching ceremonies there. I am sure a large number of books would be snapped up within no time if there are released at the book bazaar.”

Official sources told Dawn that the task of holding book bazaars on weekdays at various places in the city would be easier said than done. “The city government will have a hard time convincing booksellers to set up their stalls at various places. The city government has been organizing the book bazaar at the Frere Hall on a no-profit-no-loss basis. This meant that the booksellers paid for all utility charges, etc. The booksellers would agree to hold bazaars at those places only where they could recover this additional expense.”

A bookseller, who requested not to be named, said that it would be very difficult for booksellers to set up stalls in middle-class localities. “The proximity of the Frere Hall book bazaar to posh localities has enabled the booksellers to charge slightly higher prices. The little surplus amount they earned went towards the payment of utility charges. They would not have this advantage in middle-class localities.”

He added that if the city government offered a little incentive to booksellers they might agree to hold bazaars.