Karachi, Pakistan – The five-day Karachi International Book Fair, held at the Expo Centre under the aegis of the Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association, witnessed a record-breaking sale of books on Sunday. The massive turnout of book enthusiasts left the parking area packed, causing traffic congestion outside the Expo Centre. The fair, which started on Wednesday, attracted a huge crowd of students, teachers, scholars, and literary personalities, who flocked to the book fair from 10 am to 9 pm every day.
The book fair featured an impressive collection of over 3,000 books on various subjects, including educational, literary, religious, scientific, and children’s literature. Publishers from Pakistan and abroad showcased their books, attracting a large number of visitors, including students, teachers, and book lovers. According to estimates, over 5 million people visited the book fair in the first four days, surpassing the initial expectations.
The organizers had set up 329 stalls at the book fair, featuring books from 17 countries, including Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The book fair will continue until December 22, with book sellers offering discounts to book enthusiasts on the last day.
In a related development, Dr. Farooq Sattar, the leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), appealed to the youth to rediscover their love for reading. He advised young people to carry a book with them while visiting cafes or tea shops. Sattar was speaking at the Karachi International Book Fair on Sunday, where he praised the organizers for their efforts in promoting reading habits among the youth.
Other notable speakers at the book fair included Convener Waqar Mutin, Chairman Kamran Noorani, Chief Justice Nisar, and VC Dr. Khaled Iraqi. The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Nisar, made light of the situation, saying that if the government could ensure that the judges’ residences were not stormed by protesters, they could also ensure that the law and order situation improved.
In a separate incident, a gunfight broke out in Khanpur Mehr, resulting in the death of several people. The police have taken the bodies and the injured to the hospital. The SSP said that the bomb disposal squad has been called in to search for explosives, as there is a risk of rockets exploding in the dacoits’ hideouts.
Meanwhile, a superhighway accident occurred in Abbottabad, resulting in damage to an SHO’s vehicle. The police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.
In another incident, a bus collided with an oil tanker in Tafatan, resulting in the deaths of 9 people and injuring 10 others. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shehbaz Sharif, announced that the opposition alliance has agreed to support the government in restoring the independence of the judiciary and the media.
In a joint operation, the Rangers and the police killed two dacoits in Ghotki, near the Sindh-Punjab border.
