ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The ministry of education is considering a proposal to import second hand books from the developed countries for distribution among students of various educational institutions throughout the country.

A senior ministry official told Dawn that the proposal had been submitted to the Asia Foundation seeking its help for the acquisition of books and textbooks for the students and scholars of Pakistan.

The ministry had requested the Asia Foundation to provide funds for this purpose and help locate potential sources for additional fundings, he added.

He said second hand books would be brought from the developed countries, particularly the United States, with a view to provide quality materials to students and scholars in the country.

He said these books might be distributed through charitable organizations which had experience in distribution of clothes, food articles and medicines among the deserving persons. He said the ministry was also considering to contact the companies, involved in the business of second hand books.

It is also possible that students might be directly asked to donate their old books, instead of selling them back to the book stores, at the end of a semester.

Moreover, publishers might be approached directly for donations or at a reduced price, the official said.

Furthermore, scholars and other interested citizens might be contacted for donation of books from personal libraries to a specific school or university or to an appropriate agent of the ministry of education for distribution.