ISLAMABAD: When Shahzad Khalil went to the National Book Festival at the Pak-China Friendship Centre with some friends, he was simply there for a good time.

“After I got there and visited a number of stalls, I felt embarrassed that I had not read any book for the last several years – other than books in my school or college syllabus,” the intermediate student told Dawn.

“I remembered that my father used to buy me story books when I was in primary school, because he believed they would improve my reading and make me interested in education. He used to listen to stories from me. Even though he was educated, he would push me to read the newspaper to him loudly,” he said.

“My father, who was an educationist, died around seven years ago and after that no one gave me a book as a present. A few years ago, my uncle gave me a tablet, and my younger siblings use it as well but they mostly play games on it.”

He said he bought story books for his brother and sister in remembrance of his father. “I will give them the books and suggest that they read,” Mr Khalil said.

Waseem Ahmad Khan, a representative of the Association for Academic Quality, which has established six stalls at the festival, told Dawn they have received a very positive response.

“We are selling books at a 20pc discount, and a large number of people have bought books from us. I believe book festivals not only attract a large number of people but also develop their interest in books,” he said.

However, Mr Khan said, people are “forgetting books because of social media and the Internet”. They should understand that books have their own charm and there is no alternative to a book, he added.

National Book Foundation (NBF) book ambassador Asif Noor told Dawn he conducted an event on Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah, also known as Ibn Khaldun’s Prolegomena, which was written by the historian and philosopher in 1377.

He said the text contains information on various nations and tribes, their cultures and how they are interconnected.

NBF representative Majeed Malik said the three-day festival contains 170 stalls, and was inaugurated by President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday.

“We expect that over 10,000 people will visit the festival daily. More stallholders are giving up to 50pc discounts, and the NBF has been giving a 55pc discount under its readers’ club,” he said.

Speaking at the festival’s inauguration, Mr Hussain said books guide people in playing their role in developing society and the country.

“Books bring us out of darkness and give us a ray of hope. There is need to give books to the new generation so that their future is secured. Moreover there is need to study politics, economics and social issues,” he said. He added that all segments of society need to work together to deal with the menace of extremism, which would only be possible with books.

Other festival participants includes Punjab Governor Malik Mohammad Rafique Rajwana, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and Adviser to the Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2017