KARACHI, Jan 2: The city government is planning to hold a book bazaar at Al-Markaz-i-Islami, near the Azizabad telephone exchange in Federal B Area, for three days on a provisional basis.

Official sources told Dawn on Friday that emboldened by the success of the book bazaar, that was held on the lawns of the Frere Hall every Sunday, the city government had decided to hold such bazaars at other places also.

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

He added that efforts were under way to organize book bazaars at 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 sources said that activities at the book bazaar at Al-Markaz-i-Islami were yet to gain momentum, despite the fact that the bazaar had been in place for the past two weeks.

"That is why the city government is planning to hold the bazaar for three days on a provisional basis, so that book lovers come to know about it," they explained.

The Frere Hall book bazaar was closed by the Sindh government on Aug 24, 2003, at the request of the US consul-general. However, the Karachi Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, revived the bazaar on Sept 7, last year, after two-week closure.

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 these are released at the book bazaar," he added.