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.

KLA chief presents Jumbo Karachi Guide to President of Hyderabad Gymkhana

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Founder President of Karachi Library Association (KLA), Farheen Mahmood, presented a copy of Jumbo Karachi Guide to the President of Hyderabad Gymkhana, Dr Agha Taj Mohammad, during a meeting held at the iconic club of Hyderabad on October 21. 

The Advisor of KLA, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and the Senior Vice President of KLA, Shama Bano, were also present on the occasion. 

The President of Hyderabad Gymkhana, Dr Agha Taj Mohammad, who also happens to be one of the leading surgeons, was highly appreciative of the content of Jumbo Karachi Guide and he quickly reckoned that Hyderabad also deserved to have such a publication to showcase its rich heritage combined with the signature events of the city. 

Extending his best wishes to its editors and publishers, he expressed the hope that Jumbo Hyderabad Guide will also see light of the day in not too distant future.

Jumbo Publishing's greetings on World Book Day

Jumbo Publishing wishes Happy World Book Day

 

Jumbo author Asma Hassan’s personality interview highlights Dayar-e-Adab magazine

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Young and promising motivational writer, Asma Hassan, whose first book Mayar-e-Zindagi turned out to be a success story, has been interviewed in detail by Dayar-e-Adab magazine. 

The personality interview has been published in the April 2023 issue of the monthly literary magazine. The editor of Dayar-e-Adab magazine, Muhammad Asif Sultani, himself has conducted the detailed interview in which various aspects of the author of Mayar-e-Zindagi, Asma Hassan, have been brought to light. 

While the interview is comprehensive and very well narrated, the designing as well as the presentation of the content also meet the highest professional standards which should further increase its readership and viewership.

Asma Hassan's interview can be accessed by clicking https://m.facebook.com/story.php

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Jumbo Karachi Guide among books gift during Delhi College’s Library Week

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Jumbo Karachi Guide, the first-ever travel guide of any city of Pakistan published annually, was among the books gifted to the outstanding performers of various events during the recently held Library Week at Delhi Commerce & Science College and Delhi Montessori & Primary School, housed in Karachi’s densely populated location of Karimabad, Federal-B-Area. 

The week-long event, concluding with a colourful prize distribution ceremony, was jointly organized by Delhi Anglo-Arabic College & Schools Old Boys Association, National Library Association (NLA) and Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD). Competitions were organized in poster, sketching, essay writing, quiz and poetry. 

The organizers as well as the participants of the Library Week were highly appreciative of Jumbo Karachi Guide, describing it as a book of knowledge.

Jalaluddin presents Jumbo Karachi Guide to Australian High Commissioner

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s former Test fast bowler and now the country’s highest qualified cricket coach, Jalaluddin, presented a copy of Jumbo Karachi Guide to Neil Hawkins, Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, during a high-profile event at the National Stadium, Karachi, on January 19. 

The occasion was the final of the 3rd AHC-JCA Girls Schools Cricket Cup 2023 organized by the Jalaluddin Cricket Academy (JCA) and supported by the Australian High Commission. Neil Hawkins was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony in which Fawad Alam, Pakistan’s Test cricketer, was the guest of honour. 

Jalaluddin, the first-ever bowler to register hat-trick in the history of One-day Internationals, informed the Australian High Commissioner about the significance of Jumbo Karachi Guide, a pioneering effort to boost the soft image of the country. 

The Australian High Commissioner nodded in appreciation as he glanced through Jumbo Karachi Guide. He took particular interest in the chapter on cricket academies of Karachi in which Jalaluddin and his academy trainees were featured prominently.

Raees Fatima’s Ahwaal-o-Aasaar arrives

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Veteran columnist Raees Fatima’s 17th book titled ‘Ahwaal-o-Aasaar’ has hit the market and she presented its copies to office-bearers of the National Library Association (NLA) in a simple but graceful session on January 18. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood and Farheen Mahmood, who are Advisor and Vice President of the NLA respectively, extended their warm greetings to the versatile author, who has distinguished herself in the field of writing besides being an eminent educationist. 

Both the NLA officials lavishly praised Raees Fatima for her scholastic accomplishments and described her works as an asset to Urdu literature. 

The papers and thesis written on Raees Fatima by various renowned scholars and students have also been reproduced in the book alongwith a selection of her columns published in Roznama Express, one of the leading Urdu newspapers of the country. 

‘Ahwaal-o-Aasaar’ is an elegantly produced hardbound title, spread over 336 pages with a jacket cover. The smiling picture of the author on the cover is befittingly complemented by images of the titles of her previously books on the back cover. 

The book is very reasonably priced at Rupees one thousand per copy despite the phenomenal rise in costs of paper and other printing material in the recent past. High-quality offset paper has been used for the text while the coloured photographs are printed on art paper.

Jumbo Karachi Guide earns more praise

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Jumbo Karachi Guide, acclaimed as the first-ever guidebook of any city to be published in Pakistan, earned more praise this time from Raees Fatima, a noted intellectual having distinguished herself by authoring as many as 16 books. 

She was appreciative of Jumbo Karachi Guide, presented to her by the top officials of the National Library Association (NLA). The honours were done jointly by Syed Khalid Mahmood (Advisor) and Farheen Mahmood (Vice President). 

Raees Fatima, who has also written a book on Karachi by the name of Shahray Baimisal, was of the opinion that such guides of other cities of Pakistan should also be brought out to highlight their various aspects for the benefit of tourists as well as researchers.

Veteran author extols Mayar-e-Zindagi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Jumbo Publishing’s popular book, Mayar-e-Zindagi, which is a compilation of motivational articles penned by emerging writer Asma Hassan, was presented to Raees Fatima, a famous author, columnist and novelist. 

Farheen Mahmood, Vice President, National Library Association (NLA), currently working as Chief Librarian at the iconic Adamjee Science College in Karachi, made the presentation to Raees Fatima. The Chairman of Jumbo Publishing, Syed Khalid Mahmood, also the Advisor to NLA, was also present the occasion. 

Raees Fatima, herself an author of 16 books, was impressed with the content and production of Mayar-e-Zindagi which she considered a handy reference book. She also praised the cover painting, which she reckoned, has added value to the book.