Jumbo Karachi Guide: Abdul Qadir Qureshi’s dream debut as Chief Editor

Jumbo Editorial Team

Abdul Qadir Qureshi, whose career as a working journalist spans well over four decades, has the standout quality of undertaking the toughest of assignments and delivering in the nick of time. Meeting and beating deadlines have been the hallmark throughout his illustrious career.

He made the national news agency of the country proud by filing innumerable stories day in and day out for decades. His efficiency and consistency have remained unmatched in the profession. His contribution to the cause of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) has been legendary.

Jumbo Karachi Guide presented a different kind of challenge to Abdul Qadir Qureshi in the role of Chief Editor. But he brought all his expertise and experience into play and came up with a spectacular performance to put together the landmark publication.

Abdul Qadir Qureshi, widely recognized as the doyen of working journalists in Karachi, has always believed in letting his work to do the talking. He has done a commendable job by making Karachi’s first-ever comprehensive travel guide a real historic document. His selection of top-class articles in the inaugural issue has provided a head start to the project.

Jumbo Karachi Guide has been published by Jumbo Infomedia. It is spread over 148 pages of A-5 size in four-colour while being printed on Matt Finish paper with worthy resource material between the covers.

Jumbo Karachi Guide arrives

Jumbo Editorial Team

Jumbo Karachi Guide took a good number of years to be compiled, edited, produced and finally published. Its inaugural edition has arrived and the early feedback has been terrific.

It’s Karachi’s first-ever comprehensive travel guide. The paperback, published by Jumbo Infomedia, is spread over 148 pages of A-5 size in four-colour and it’s printed on Matt Finish paper with a wealth of information inside covers.

Jumbo Karachi Guide has been compiled by a team of vastly experienced journalists with the iconic figure of Abdul Qadir Qureshi being its Chief Editor.

Besides Karachi Important Telephone Numbers, Karachi Postal Area Codes, Karachi Facts and Chronology of events, the articles published with eye-catching and historic photographs of the city are Introducing Karachi, Modern Karachi, Climate of Karachi, From Kolachi to Karachi, Karachi’s Architectural heritage,Cultural history of Karachi, Karachi Tramway becomes a thing of past, Education remains identity of Karachi, Evolution of new media through blogging and social networking, Hub of business, Karachi Port continues to offer new opportunities, Enchanting beaches and coastline, Engagement in sports and recreation, Premier hotels of Karachi, Hot and spicy food, Shoppers Paradise for everyon’s delight, Multiplexes revive cinema culture in Karachi, My Karachi: Oasis of harmony, Hamara Karachi Festival rocks, Karachi International Book Fair gladdens bookworms, Fashion Week making waves in Karachi, Karachi Literature Festival illuminates literary scene and Social sector development in Karachi.

The maps of Pakistan, Sindh and Karachi have been printed separately while Practical Information section has the listings of Airlines, Ambulance Services, Art Galleries, Banks, Blood Banks, Booksellers, Breakfast & Brunch, Chocolates & Sweets, Cinemas, Clubs, Coach Services, Courier Services, Cultural Centres, Departmental Stores, Farm Houses, Fast Food, Florists, Foreign Mission, Fun Spots, Gift Shops, Golf Clubs, Handicrafts, Health Clubs, Hospitals, Hotels, Ice Cream Shops, Laboratories & X-ray Centres, Libraries, Medical Stores, Money Changers, Museums, Photo Colour Laboratories, Photographers, Rent A Car, Restaurants, Travel Agents and Tour Operators.

The handy book, priced Pak Rs 600, is available at all leading bookstores and it can also be obtained directly at the office of Jumbo Infomedia.

KIBF 2011 concludes on a high

Jumbo Editorial Team

After five action-packed days and evenings the curtain fell to the 7th Karachi International Book Fair 2011 at the Expo Centre in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on December 20. Quite remarkably the high intensity was sustained throughout the event with the total number of visitors estimated to be in the excess of 300,000.

There was as much activity on the fifth and final day as the one witnessed on the earlier four days. The people continued rushing in and all three halls were full even when the announcement for closure was made on the public address system late in the evening.

The ‘Activity Lounge’ also remained occupied until the final moments with lucky draws taken out by various participating stall holders. Quite a few books continued to be launched in the presence of luminaries of their respective fields.

The parking lots in and around the huge Expo Centre remained packed but thankfully everything was smoothly managed that allowed the traffic to move freely despite the rush of vehicles. The security systems at all gates functioned efficiently and it didn’t cause hindrance in movement of the hundreds of people who were disciplined enough to stand in long queues without complaining.

The organizers were complimented to have made excellent arrangements to facilitate what was believed to be the busiest five days of the year at the Expo Centre with the largest turnout in a single exhibition.

Mammoth weekend turnout at KIBF 2011

Jumbo Editorial Team

The 7th Karachi International Book Fair 2011 has already drawn huge crowds on the first three days and the total number of visitors at the five-day event of Expo Centre in Gulshan-e-Iqbal is expected to cross the magical figure of 300,000.

“Surely we have had a bigger turnout in this event than in the past editions which is a clear reflection of its growing popularity among the masses. The people of Karachi have a passion for reading and almost everyone coming here is returning with a shopper full of books,” Owais Mirza Jamil, Convener, KIBF, observed while talking to the media on December 18.

“Look people of all ages have reached this spot. They have come from different areas of the city. The parking lot is full with cars and motorcycles. Outside Expo Centre there is huge activity of public transport causing jams. Big queues are being witnesses at the entry points. The book culture is very much alive and kicking in Karachi,” he said while pointing towards the crowded halls and corridors.

Aziz Khalid, Chairman, Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA), was also greatly satisfied with the large gathering on the first three days with even greater rush being anticipated on the last couple of days.

“The most heartening feature of the KIBF is the positive role of the young mothers who are constantly encouraging their tiny tots to purchase lots of books of their choice. These kids will definitely develop passion for reading from the childhood which augurs so well for the society,” he reckoned.

Nadeem Mazhar, a member of the Managing Committee of the 7th KIBF 2011, was also thrilled with the presence of thousands of bookworms, adding that the people of Karachi love to read books and they look forward to this fair throughout the year.

Soul Unshackled launch illuminates KIBF 2011

Jumbo Editorial Team

The Activity Lounge of the 7th Karachi International Book Fair 2011, being held at the Expo Centre, has remained occupied from the outset but it came to real life with the launch of the book titled ‘Soul Unshackled’ on December 17.

Paramount Publishing Enterprise has come up with yet another fantastic book, which has been authored by a youngster from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Fida, whose dreams were shattered with his imprisonment. The Urdu translation of the book titled ‘Na Qafus Na Ashiyana’ was also launched simultaneously.

In the book, written in confinement, Sohail Fida has narrated the story how his life took an unexpected turn when he was arrested on suspicion of murder, falsely accused and tortured by the police into signing a confession for a crime he did not commit, sentenced to death by the local magistrate, and thrown into the dark dungeons of the death cell to await execution.

Iqbal Saleh Mohammad, Managing Director, Paramount Publishing Enterprise, delivered yet another thought-provoking welcome address, in which he precisely spoke on ills and weaknesses of the society.

Dr Masuma Hasan, a leading scholar, who is recognized as the first women Ph.D. as well as the first women Federal Secretary of Pakistan, was the chief guest in the launching ceremony which was presided over by Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, Former Inspector General of Police, Sindh.

Agha Masood Hussain, a famous journalist and scholar, and Shakeel Farooqui, a former Controller of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) also shared their candidly during the ceremony, conducted nicely by Umbreen Mahar of Paramount Publishing Enterprise, lasting around 90 minutes.

Soul Unshackled to be launched at KIBF on December 17

Jumbo Editorial Team

Paramount Publishing Enterprise will launch another unique title in two languages which is a story of a young prisoner, who has completed his education while facing charges connected to the murder of a local boy in Swat.

The launching ceremony will be taking place at 4 pm on December 17 in the Hall Number 2 of the Expo Centre where the 7th Karachi International Book Fair 2011 is being held with great fanfare.

The book is being launched in two languages. While the edition in English has been titled ‘Soul Unshackled’ the book in Urdu has been named ‘Na Qafus Na Ashiyana.’

Dr Masuma Hasan,. Chairperson, Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA), and a former Ambassador, will be the chief guest in the launching ceremony to be presided over by Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, Former Inspector General of Police, Sindh.

A large number of intellectuals, media professionals and the industry leaders are expected to grace the launch of a harrowing and heroic autobiographical account of a prisoner.

All roads lead to Expo Centre as KIBF 2011 opens

Jumbo Editorial Team

The areas surrounding the Expo Centre are buzzing with activity and there’s a lot of noise inside three halls since morning as the 7th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) 2011 was opened to the public at the designated time of 10 am on December 16.

The stalls have been tastefully decorated and there has been considerable rush of people of all ages from the moment the gates were opened on a Friday morning on which life generally is slow in Karachi.

There were students, clad in uniform, as well as teachers and professionals who not only visited the various stalls but also availed the opportunity of purchasing books in comparatively less crowded environment as more people are expected to pour in during the weekends.

The officials and volunteers of the KIBF are there at the reception area to greet and facilitate the visitors. The KIBF Convener, Owais Mirza Jamil, and the Chairman of the Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA), Aziz Khalid, are supervising all the arrangements with the assistance of their team members.

A record number of 290 stalls have been set up in the KIBF 2011 which promises to become the largest event of its kind in Pakistan.