MUZAFFARABAD: Civil society activists in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have called upon Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider to dedicate a week to reading books, to reconnect people of the state, particularly the younger generation, with books in accordance with past traditions of the territory.

The demand was made by them at a sitting, held a few days back as part of efforts of Alif Laila Book Bus Society (ALBBS), a Lahore based non-profit organisation, to establish library corners in primary schools with the support of the Islamic Development Bank which has already sponsored construction of 337 primary school buildings in AJK.

Set up in 1978, the ALBBS works with an objective to evolve solutions to Pakistan’s educational problems and find strategically effective paths to promote literacy and educational modernisation, within the given socioeconomic constraints.

The theme of the sitting was: Let’s make Kashmir a reading nation. Participants, most from the media, put their heads together to find ways to influence decision/policy makers to introduce library corners in primary schools and encourage the habit of reading in local communities.

“Our children must be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow ... If students are able to read critically, they can also think critically,” said Ms Rabia A Khan, vice president of ALBBS on the occasion.

She pointed out that despite being technologically advanced societies, all developed nations had been focusing on providing access to books in early classes.

“We also need to develop and implement a school policy where our students have access to books in primary classes,” she said.

Participants recalled that there used to be libraries not only in all public sector schools but also in most neighbourhoods, set up by the communities. However, they said the culture of book reading had almost vanished over the years due to a number of reasons, one of them being high prices of books and the overburdened curriculum.

Asserting that the culture of book reading could be revived if policy makers and communities made a commitment to this effect, Ms Khan said: “If young students are provided the opportunity to read story books in their school libraries, there is no denying the fact they will carry on with this habit for the rest of their lives.”

It was in the wake of this discussion that all participants unanimously agreed to make a passionate call to Prime Minister Haider to not only facilitate establishment of library corners in primary schools but also designate a national reading week.

They also urged peoples from all walks to life to promote reading not only during this week, but round the year, in addition to encouraging book donation drives.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2021