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.

Jumbo Publishing wishes Happy New Year 2024

KLA President invites eminent physicist to attend KFBL 2024

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the Karachi Library Association (KLA), Farheen Mahmood, extended the invitation to attend the first-ever Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL 2024) to an eminent physicist, Prof Shadab Hussain, which was promptly and gladly accepted. 

The KLA is offering technical assistance to the KFBL, being presented by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of English Speaking Union of Pakistan, with its inaugural edition scheduled to be staged at the Rangoonwala Community Centre on January 27 and 28, 2024. It’s going to be the first high-profile event of its kind in the country, expected to be inaugurated by the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi. 

The Hyderabad-based Prof Shadab Hussain, who has worked as Director Colleges, Government of Sindh, came to Karachi to attend a launching of a book on physics which took place at the Adamjee Government Science College on December 20. 

The KLA President, Farheen Mahmood, who is the Chief Librarian at the Adamjee Government College, during her meeting with former DG Colleges, Prof Shadab Hussain, at the book launch, availed the opportunity of inviting the learned professor to the KFBL 2024. 

“Prof Shadab Hussain, while accepting the invitation, also wished the organizers of KFBL the best of luck. He didn’t mince words in stating that he has always remained supportive to such initiatives,” the KLA President disclosed in a brief chat with PNFS soon after their meeting.

KLA upbeat ahead of KFBL 2024

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The sixth meeting of office-bearers of the Karachi Library Association (KLA), held on December 2, discussed at length various aspects of the Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL 2024) in which they will be offering technical assistance besides organizing events of its. 

The KFBL, is being presented by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of English Speaking Union of Pakistan, and its inaugural edition is scheduled to be staged at the Rangoonwala Community Centre on January 27 and 28, 2024. It’s going to be the first high-profile event of its kind in Pakistan whereby libraries will be in focus. 

The KLA President, Farheen Mahmood, chaired the meeting which was also attended by Shama Bano (Senior Vice President), Syed Khalid Mahmood (Advisor), Bushra Roohi (Vice President), Nasir Mustafa (Secretary General), Wajid Ali Chandio (Joint Secretary), Amir Subhani (Treasurer), Ali Asghar Dars (Public Relation Secretary) and Farzana Zafar (Member, Executive Committee). Younis Hashmi (Overseas Coordinator) joined the meeting from Canada via Zoom while Uzma Rehmat, a promising young librarian, was an invited observer. 

The KLA officials were very enthusiastic about their involvement in the KFBL 2024 and they reiterated their desire to make the most of this opportunity by mobilizing all their resources. They have planned to hold competitions of library quiz to engage maximum number of college students. 

All the KLA office-bearers have volunteered visiting different public, academic and special libraries to carry out a survey of their needs and shortcomings. They deliberated on various issues on which they will be organizing sessions during the KFBL 2024.

Jumbo Publishing set to launch first-ever Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Jumbo Publishing is set to launch the Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL), which is going to be first-ever event of its kind in the country’s history, in the very first month of the new year. The KFBL 2024 is scheduled to be held at the famous Rangoonwala Community Centre, housed in the centrally located area of Dhoraji, on January 27 and 28. 

The KFBL has been founded by Aziz Memon, a renowned social entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Syed Khalid Mahmood, a celebrated author and library activist. The two-day event is being produced by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of the English Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP) while the technical assistance will be provided by the Karachi Library Association (KLA). 

The city of Karachi, home to an estimated population of more than 30 million, has witnessed innumerable festivals of many kinds and this is for the first time when libraries are being focused.