Book fair attracts thousands of book lovers: KU takes lead in organising extra-curricular activities

Extra-curricular activities at public sector universities and colleges are essential and more crucial to defeat the menace of terrorism and violence in the city. Students of Karachi University (KU) believed that involvement of pupils in extra academic activities would definitely help the government in its endeavour of uprooting violence from the society.
Unlike other public sector universities in city, this year KU also took the lead and engaged its students in healthy activities while allowing them to organise book fairs, cricket tournament and other training programs. "It has been the hallmark of the KU that varsity supports such activities," said an official. During a visit to KU, this correspondent witnessed that book fair and other sports activities in University of Karachi were being organised by different students organisations, have brought cheers and smiles on the faces of the fatigued students who just ended up with hectic round of their semester exams.
The Karachi University Book Fair - KUBF-2015 is considered a 2nd largest book fair, organised by the Study Aid Project (SAP), a brainchild of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT). "University of Karachi is the only institution which arranges such informative events like book fair for their students," said Asad Rashid, a student of Geology Department. He said that book fairs were a step in the right direction towards encouraging people to take up the habit of reading. A wide range of books and education-related accessories were made available at the fair at discounted rates.
Books of almost every kind and on every subject were displayed at the Gymnasium Hall of KU and its adjoining area. The book fair has more than 50 stalls with around 0.4 million books on various subjects of Science, fiction, Islamic Literature, Medicine, Engineering and Technology. Almost 40 percent to 60 percent discount was offered on the books make it affordable for students. Vice Chancellor KU Dr Mohammad Qaiser said that when people were on the verge of abandoning the habit of reading books, the students of KU were organising events that help in developing interest of reading books among young generation.
"Students need to improve their book reading habit and should make it a part of their life," he advised. He said books open new doors of success for its readers allowing them to explore new ideas. Students have also lauded the effort of IJT and said books are a great source of inner enlightenment. Organisers said that more than 0.1million books have been sold during three-day event, adding that some 15000 students visited the book fair. Eminent drama actor Ayaz Khan, professors and students of the other universities, political leaders also visited the fair.
Similarly, students of the Department of Public Administration organised Peace Archive, a social media campaign aiming at to promote harmony through healthy activities not only for peace within the campus but also in the entire city. Peace Archive, a project of Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) promotes harmony among students and others equally respecting their cultures, thoughts and beliefs.
"Education in a peaceful environment demands a peaceful society where people live together with sense of responsibility, awareness of their rights and tolerance with one another," said Dr Khalid Iraqi, Dean Faculty of Management & Administrative Sciences. He was of the view that progress or development is impossible without durable peace.