RLKU hosts Asma Hassan, Syed Khalid Mahmood for enlightening session on book reading promotion

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Rashid Latif Khan University (RLKU) and the Rashid Latif Medical College (RLMC), located on Ferozepur Road in Lahore, have emerged as leading educational institutions, striving to raise the bar in the field of health sciences with unstinted enthusiasm and total dedication. 

Under the able leadership of Prof Dr Rashid Latif Khan (Vice Chancellor) and Sabahat Khan (CEO), they have worked assiduously since establishment to carve a niche for themselves in a rather short span of time. 

Among other things, they have also earned recognition by forming the Talking Books forum, spearheaded by the versatile Shafqat Rafique, Chief Librarian, RLKU Library & Information Resource. The project has been designed to create a platform where people share life stories and experiences in sessions of 30 to 45 minute. 

They invited Syed Khalid Mahmood, Co-Founder, Karachi Festival of Books & Libraries (KFBL) and President, Rotary Club Karachi Darakhshan, along with Asma Hassan, a noted Urdu columnist and author of Mayar-e-Zindagi, for a session at their central library on November 8.

It turned out to be a truly productive and inspiring session as the RLKU team, headed by its Chief Librarian, deliberated with the learned guests on finding ways and means for engaging the youth in scholastic activities. A meaningful discussion ensued on Talking Books, E-Libraries, innovation in research, and how academic libraries can strengthen reading culture. 

Asma Hassan’s work spans leading digital and print platforms, where she highlights motivational perspectives on social issues and offers thoughtful solutions, emphasized that a mechanism needs to be brought in place to retain the students’ interest in reading books which generally declined after their school life. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood, having authored the highest number of books on the subject of sports in Pakistan, opined that the engagement of youth in reading could be enhanced phenomenally if high-quality books of their favourite topics were brought out to keep them interested. 

While wholeheartedly appreciating the input from both the distinguished guests, Shafqat Rafique did not mince words in stating that scholars like Asma Hassan and Syed Khalid Mahmood be inducted in the National and Provincial Curriculum Boards to bring about a positive change in this direction.

Asma Hassan’s captivating podcast for Radio Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Radio Pakistan Podcast with Asma Hassan, a renowned writer and author of Mayar-e-Zindagi, turned out to be quite a captivating session as she shared her views, aimed at motivating the masses in general and the youth in particular, in a most candid fashion. 

The credit for making the interview so thrilling also belonged to Dr Karim Ahmed, the young and energetic Programme Manager of Radio Pakistan Lahore, who conducted it with high standards of professionalism on November 7. Quite remarkably, the whole session of nearly half an hour was recorded without any retake. 

Asma Hassan, during the podcast, revealed having gained the confidence to write for various newspapers and digital platforms from the training provided by her parents who always encouraged her to pursue a career of own choice. 

“Soon after completing MBA, I took to the profession of teaching because of the eagerness to share the knowledge obtained during my university life with the students. Then, since 2019, I turned towards fulfilling my ambition of making a name in the literary world. Starting with poetry, my interest then shifted towards writing motivational articles,” she recalled. 

When inquired about the publication of her first book, she disclosed that it was during the period of lockdowns caused by Covid-19 when ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ was conceived in the summer of 2020 and the team of Jumbo Publishing enabled it to see the light of the day in a matter of just a couple of months. The book was subsequently launched with great fanfare at the Karachi Press Club. 

The interviewer, quite articulately, touched on various subjects which were covered by Asma Hassan in ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ and the author explained the situations wonderfully to sustain the high intensity of the podcast. 

Upon arrival, Asma Hassan was warmly received by Dr Ahmar Sohail Basra, the station director of Radio Pakistan Lahore. The author presented a copy of her book ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ to the learned official, who praised its contents and production. Syed Khalid Mahmood of Jumbo Publishing was also present on the occasion.

99-year-old author inaugurates KFBL-WBD 2025 celebrations

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

The 99-year-old famous scholar and commentator, Bashir Ahmad Khan, having authored a record number of 45 books, declared open the KFBL World Book Day 2025 celebrations, being produced by Jumbo Publishing, on April 21. 

“I, Bashir Ahmad Khan, the author of 45 books, do hereby declare open World Book Day celebrations of 2nd Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries 2025,” the 99-year-old celebrity announced in the presence of many other dignitaries present on the occasion. 

“Reading books, as you all know, offers multiple benefits, which include improved mental health, increased knowledge, enhanced vocabulary, and stress reduction,” he highlighted. “My heartiest congratulations to KFBL Co-founders, Aziz Memon and Syed Khalid Mahmood, organizers, supporters, volunteers and participants of this grand initiative. God bless you all. Pakistan Zindabad,” Bashir Ahmad Khan concluded. 

Dr Miftah Ismail, a former federal finance minister, also attended the ceremony alongwith the top officials of the Delhi Anglo-Arabic College and Schools Old Boys Association. 

The 10-day event of the 2nd Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL) 2025, focused on World Book Day, will witness a flurry of activities engaging people of all age groups. 

It may be recalled that the KFBL, produced by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of the English-Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP), was inaugurated the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, in March 2024.

1st KFBL Book Fair 2024 concludes at Rangoonwala Community Centre

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The two-day book fair, the final event of the 1st Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL) 2024, concluded with a simple but graceful closing ceremony at Rangoonwala Community Centre, housed in Dhoraji Society, on the evening of November 28. 

It had been jointly inaugurated by Senator Sarmad Ali, President, Jang Media Group, and Murad Ali Mohmand, Managing Director, National Book Foundation, alongwith cofounders, Aziz Memon and Syed Khalid Mahmood, in a colourful opening function a day earlier. 

All the worthy speakers highlighted the significance of books and libraries, describing the KFBL as a landmark initiative which would go a long way in promoting reading habits in the society, particularly among the youth of the country. They were unanimous in advocating for more activities of this nature in the larger national interest. 

They drew warm applause from the audience, who were thoroughly appreciative of their proven level of commitment for social service. Quite a few publishers, booksellers and NGOs tastefully decorated their stalls while offering generous discount to the visitors during the book fair. 

As announced publicly, some of the exhibitors, with the support of philanthropists, also provided books and stationery items, absolutely free of cost to the people without asking questions. The book fair remained open to public from 10 30 am to 8 pm on both days. 

The first-ever KFBL, produced by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of the English-Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP), was launched in January with the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, having inaugurated the festival in March. Various segments of the KFBL, set to become an annual event, were held throughout the year with the curtain falling on it with the book fair.

Jumbo Publishing, NBF set to join hands for book culture promotion

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Jumbo Publishing and National Book Foundation (NBF) have agreed in principle to join hands in the promotion of book culture in the country. The understanding was reached in a high-level meeting held in Karachi on July 24. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Jumbo Publishing, and co-founder, Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL), was engaged in a marathon session with the NBF team, headed by their young and energetic Managing Director, Murad Ali Mohmand. 

Arif Ahmed, Incharge, Audit Section, Munawwar Hussain Narejo, Regional Incharge, Karachi, and Syed Faisal Naveed Ali of Administration department were the other NBF officials having attended the meeting which deliberated on a number of matters pertaining to book culture promotion. 

The NBF functionaries were appreciative of the various initiatives having been undertaken by Jumbo Publishing over the years with special mention of the KFBL which was inaugurated by the President of Pakistan earlier this year. 

The NBF Managing Director, having played a key role in enhancing the image of his organization, pledged to extend maximum possible support to activities aimed at promoting book culture in Pakistan. 

He reckoned that the masses deserved books of high quality at affordable prices in order to develop appetite for reading and bringing about improvement in their lives.

President Dr Arif Alvi inaugurates first-ever Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries, presents lifetime recognition shields

By Iqbal Jamil

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, inaugurated the Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL), the first-ever event of its kind to be held in Pakistan, in a graceful event here at the Sindh Governor House on March 2. 

A large number of librarians, academics, scholars, authors and designers attended the one-hour inauguration and recognition ceremony of the KFBL, being produced by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of the English-Speaking Union of Pakistan while the technical assistance is being provided by the Karachi Library Association (KLA). 

President Dr Arif Alvi, who was the chief guest in the ceremony, bestowed upon Lifetime Achievement Recognition mementoes to the famed quintet of Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Journalism), Iqbal Saleh Muhammad (Publishing and Bookselling), Syed Ahmed Naqvi (Librarianship), A G Khalid (Graphic Designing) and Ehsan Qureshi (Sports Authorship), besides presenting shields to Aziz Memon, Jahangir Moghul, Syed Khalid Mahmood and Khalid Mumtaz Ansari for in recognition of library activism. The citations of the five recipients of Lifetime Achievement awards were also shared on the occasion.

The KLA founders, Prof Farheen Mahmood, Prof Shama Bano, Prof Bushra Roohi, Prof Syed Munawwar Ali, Prof Amir Subhani, Nasir Mustafa, Wajid Ali Chandio, Ali Asghar Dars, Rehana Sadiq, Farzana Zafar and Muhammad Younus Hashmi were received mementoes from the President of Pakistan for their overwhelming contributions to librarianship. 

President Dr Arif Alvi wholeheartedly lauded the initiative of holding the KFBL around a time when the nation moved on to undertake new challenges in the age of digital technology and artificial intelligence. 

“We needed such a mega-event, with focus on libraries, to bring people towards books. There’s no doubt about it that libraries symbolize the progress of civilization. Therefore, libraries need to be preserved, protected, promoted, developed, redeveloped and reshaped. As all of you know, there are multiple benefits of reading books which could be most conveniently done by visiting libraries,” he emphasized.

“Events like KFBL can help in filling this vacuum as they plan to make sustainable efforts in this direction. The creation of awareness about the libraries among the masses will enable a larger pool of people to utilize the facilities and the students and professionals in particular will get the opportunity to sharpen their skills by visiting the libraries,” he added. 

The President talked about the much-needed efforts for digitalization of content in order to reach bigger audience and attract the younger generation, who were more inclined to read through their own gadgets. 

Aziz Memon and Syed Khalid Mahmood, the co-founders of the KFBL, also spoke on the occasion alongwith Jahangir Moghul, Past District Governor of Rotary International, and Prof Farheen Mahmood, President, KLA. All of them highlighted the need of having such events on a regular basis to bring about a real change in the lives of the people.

Jumbo Publishing presents first-ever festival of books and libraries in Pakistan

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The inaugural Karachi Festival of Books & Libraries (KFBL) 2024, the first event of its kind to have been conceived in Pakistan, got underway with its introductory session at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on January 24. Both the co-founders, Aziz Memon and Syed Khalid Mahmood, were present in the ceremony to unveil the details about the festival. 

Jumbo Publishing, one of the respected names in the industry, is presenting the festival with the collaboration of the English-Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP), while the technical assistance is being provided by the Karachi Library Association (KLA) with the Friends of Libraries Pakistan (FLP) arranging for volunteers.

Jahangir Moghul, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, presided over the introduction ceremony which was also addressed by famous writer, Prof Farhat Azeem, poet Dr Shabnam Aman, KLA President, Farheen Mahmood, FLP President, Khalid Mumtaz Ansari and KPC Secretary, Shoaib Ahmed while the vote of thanks was proposed by KLA Secretary General, Nasir Mustafa. 

Starting the journey with the introductory session, the inauguration ceremony of the KFBL is planned to be held in February and activities will continue throughout the year until the Book & Library Fair, scheduled to be organized in November. 

The KFBL will be spread over a diverse set of activities for library professionals, academics, scholars, authors, and students during the year-long event which aims to bring together stakeholders across the board, from librarians and academics to government officers to develop a roadmap for encouraging libraries to become the drawing room of the community and for the readers to emerge as future leaders, in consonance with the spirit of a country that reads, is a country that leads.