The musical show Sufi Night, one of the most exquisite segment of the ongoing book festival, attracted a large number of people especially the youth at the fourth day of the festival held at Pak-China Friendship Centre on Saturday.
Men, women and children participated in it with great enthusiasm and enjoyed it very much.
Youth was dancing in the singing programme in, which the country’s renowned vocalists Sanam Marvi, Shiraz Opal, Riaz Qadri and Sher Miandad entertained the audience with their unique styles of singing and melodious voices.
The well-reputed TV Artist, Shahnaz Shaikh was the host of this musical Sufi Night.
The five-day event was organised by National Book Foundation (NBF) in a bid to disseminate knowledge and inculcate book reading habit among people.
In the last four days, more than 60 segments were held.
Main theme and focus of these segments were books as they bring tranquillity, harmony and softness in the minds of people, which leads to peace and love in the society.
This cause-oriented Book Festival is the best way to lure the present generation from negative activities.
NBF chalked out comprehensive programmes to commemorate the 6th National Book Day.
The five-day event is ideally suited for the promotion of book reading and literature, which is the significance of this mega event.
This book mela has been held to provide golden opportunities to all and sundry to buy books at discounted prices from the book stalls holding there to sell their variety of books for book lovers, to enjoy with different entertaining programmes, to meet with the living legends and to spend memorable moments with renowned writers.
Ataul Haq Qasmi, Zahida Hina, Muhammad Hameed Shahid, Asghar Nadeem Syed, read out some selective portions of their books whereas Anwar Shaoor, Sehr Ansari and Shaikh recited verses from poetry books.
Mahboob Zafar was the host of the segment. The multiple programmes of children were held.
The large number of book lovers attended these segments. High calibre authors of books, famous writers, intellectuals, showbiz stars and personalities from different fields of life enjoyed a lot it as this brought huge amusement, knowledge and information with respect to Urdu literature.
Similarly, the overseas Pakistani writers segment was also appreciated by everyone. Former foreign secretary and poet Akram Zaki presided over it and the chief guest was Overseas Pakistanis Foundation MD Habibur Rehman Khan.
The writers from abroad and inland met together and shared moments with each other.
The book reading sessions of translation of Turkish and Chinese languages into Urdu were attended by foreigners and Pakistanis as well.
NBF acted upon a comprehensive plan of publishing text books for the students of Grade-I (Prep) to Grade XII by up-gradation and improvement in quality up-to international standards.
This was stated by renowned book-development expert Dr Attash Durrani in the segment of workshop on Textbook Writing and Development.
This brain storming workshop was attended by a large number of teachers, students, experts and professionals.
This important exercise was arranged for inculcating knowledge and literacy for learning the capability of book development.
The participants took keen interest in this useful workshop and they came to know international standards and bench marks of text books development particularly in line with the prescribed curriculum and style guide lines.
The seminar in the honour of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal was held. Humayun Iqbal Shami was the coordinator of the segment.
The students of COMSAT University enacted a thought-provoking drama based on our national poet and his message.
Darakshan Batool of Fatima Jinnah University for Women presented graphic personification of Iqbal’s poetry.
