World Book and Copyright Day was observed on Friday world-wide including Pakistan with focus on promoting reading habits and protecting intellectual property through copyright.
World Book Day has been initiated by Unesco, in a bid to explore the pleasures of books and reading among people by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.
This idea was originated in Catalonia where on April 23, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold.
To mark the day, various NGOs and libraries organised special gatherings to mark the day. The British Council Lahore also celebrated the day by holding a number of exciting events, including a book fair and competitions for children of all ages.
The most important event of the day was a book fair for children and O- & A-level students. A large number of booksellers participated in the book fair. Visitors also had the chance to participate in a lucky draw, which was held every hour, with various prizes.
A book design competition was arranged for schools in Lahore. More than 100 entries were received with designs of the cover and contents page of a book. Moreover, there were storytelling sessions for children and a puppet show produced by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop.
Meanwhile, the Punjab University Library observed the day with focus on promoting reading habits and protecting intellectual property through copyright laws.
The library staff led by Chief Librarian, Abdul Waheed distributed different pamphlets and stickers among teachers, students and employees to mark the day.