The three-day National Book Festival opened at Lok Virsa from November 25–27 with a call to revive reading as a cornerstone of knowledge and identity. Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui addressed the inaugural ceremony, urging students, teachers and visitors to embrace the habit of reading as a pathway to long-term success.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told the audience that books form the basis of who we are, saying, “Books are your identity, and your identity shapes your destiny,” and warning that it is “difficult to build identity without the pen and the book.” He tied the pursuit of learning to religious values by recalling the first command in Islam, Iqra (Read), and reminded attendees that “knowledge is the lost heritage of the believer.” He also reflected on Pakistan’s founding in the name of religion and stressed living life in line with those teachings.
Parliamentary Secretary Farah Naz Akbar highlighted the festival’s role in promoting a reading culture in an era dominated by screens. “Although we are living in a digital era—especially the era of tools like ChatGPT—we must not sever our relationship with books,” she said, sharing that reading was a regular part of her childhood even as today many children spend more time on mobile phones. Her message underscored that while technology has its place, books remain essential to learning and character building.
Farah Naz Akbar also toured the stalls at the National Book Festival and expressed confidence that such initiatives will continue to nurture a culture of reading across Pakistan, particularly among young people. The festival showcased a range of titles and provided a platform for readers, educators and families to reconnect with printed books and the broader ideas they carry.
