LAST week I went to a bookshop as I felt I should spend some of my savings on a few volumes that I felt would enrich my spiritual need for knowledge.

Alas! Owing to the high prices of the books I was keen on acquiring, I came away with buying only two.

It is sad that reading books is becoming a habit of the past. The reason for this is changing trends and the high prices of books.

The reading habit needs to be encouraged among the young, but students cannot afford original copies of novels, literature, history and poetry books when prices start and Rs1,500 and go into the thousands.

I request the government to make books cheaper, especially for young readers.

Muhammad Dilawar
Quetta

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019