PESHAWAR: The US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy, (USPCAS-E), University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, in collaboration with the National Book Foundation organised a daylong book fair at the New Academic Building here on Wednesday.

Dean Faculty of Engineering, Prof Noor Mohammad inaugurated the book fair in which around 5,000 books were displayed with up to 40 per cent discount. Dr Najeebullah, Director USPCAS-E, Murad Ali, Director National Book Foundation, Peshawar, faculty members and large number of students were present on the occasion.

The book fair, which attracted a large number of visitors, is part of the USPCAS-E’s outreach efforts to promote knowledge through featuring books from all walks of life, including engineering, applied sciences, social sciences, literature, religion and fiction.

On the occasion, Dr Noor Mohammad said the book fair was aimed at providing a platform to enhance interaction among students, researchers and academia that would help increase their knowledge.

He expressed his concern that with the technological development, book reading trend was declining. He underscored the need to promote book reading habit to help students improve their ideological growth besides internet-based information and e-library resources.

“Such platforms are to remind students about the importance of reading and keeping reservoir of books. Students cannot access internet all the time due to energy crisis and limited resources, therefore, such forums should be held frequently to share the benefits of physical resources with students,” Dr Noor stressed.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2016