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.