cover story
Reflecting on the importance of reading in light of the Lahore International Book Fair
This realization is perhaps at its peak whenever the Lahore International Book Fair (LIBF) rolls around. Towards the end of every winter, the fine folks at the LIBF Trust join hands with the Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association to organize a festival of books, much to the delight of my grey matter and the chagrin of my wallet.
The first thing you feel, as you enter the halls of the Expo Centre, is the absolute joy of being around people who share your interest and realize just how important books are, and who understand your enthusiasm at finding that obscure volume that you’ve been looking for, followed immediately by the anxiety that the said tome will now join that ever-growing TBR pile that is threatening to touch the ceiling. (#SoLittleTimeSoMuchToRead etc.)
Next on the agenda is the absolute dread that instantly destroys your soul as soon as you see the price labels. Ain’t no way you can afford that very long list of titles you had in mind when you merrily strolled into the building, blissfully unaware of your crushing poverty. The afternoon then becomes a test of your impulse control, as you decide what to take with you and what to leave behind, while frantically sending friends a virtual SOS to walk you off the ledge of overspending. (This year, a friend managed to get me to remove two books from my basket, and I felt very prudent about just purchasing … 13 books instead of 15. Because 15 is obviously too many while 13 is just fine! Also, the irony of buying a book on decluttering while basically adding a whole heap of things to a room that is already beginning to look like a hoarder’s nest was not lost on me.)
But that’s the LIBF in a nutshell: a joyous gathering of book enthusiasts that unites you with the books of your dreams, that aims to inspire reading but is mired by an economic reality that doesn’t exactly encourage the habit. Your best bet, of course, is to find that one stall – and there always seems to be one! – that is offering proper, significant discounts and hope they have the books you are looking for. Then begin reading, be reminded of what you’ve been missing out on, and this time try not to let go.
*****
This is why I’m broke
(i.e. the book haul)
The first book I picked is about … cats. Because obviously. I have yet to master the art of walking away from anything that has a picture of a cat on it. How does one do it? Such a mystery. It’s a gorgeous little hardcover with a velvety spine, although probably full of information that I already know, but … velvety spine, you guys!
I was next drawn to Stephen Fry’s Heroes, even though I haven’t read Mythos and have no idea if the book will make any sense to someone who can’t tell Artemis from Achilles.
Then there is a beautiful inspirational colouring book (so recommended) and a kind of meh creativity drawing book (not recommended), and there are way too many self-help books because I’m totally not having a midlife crisis at all.
The Will Smith autobiography just ended up in the pile because discount.
My selection is, as always, fairly light on fiction. I chose a couple of random Grisham novels; I haven’t read one of his books in ages and thought I might give these a go. And I got Silo (irritatingly with an Apple TV+ series cover), just to reread the terrific ‘Wool’ short story.
I purchased a Doctor Who paper doll book for a friend who loves the series, and a book about coffee art for a friend who loves coffee (but I have since decided he sucks so I might just end up keeping it).
I also went back for a couple more books and some stationary. (Have I ever actually used a highlighter? Unsure. But it sure is nice to own 8726439 of them.) I got two dictionaries for free, which I’m irrationally thrilled about. Oh and I bought way too many planners. I have suddenly gone from owning zero Filofaxes to having more Filofaxes than a normal human person can use in a lifetime. But hey, at least now I can maybe find a use for all those highlighters?
So, yeah … that’s the book haul. Now what exactly is the procedure for filing for bankruptcy?
*****
Notes from LIBF 2025
The 38th edition of the Lahore International Book Fair was held at the Expo Centre from 5 to 9 February this year. The annual event brought together sellers from across the country, giving book enthusiasts access to countless volumes from a variety of genres, all under one roof. But just how important is reading, and what can be done to inspire people to adopt this habit? We asked the participants for their take on the significance of reading and how to encourage this activity.
Mansoor Muhammad Siddiq
Generation Book Collection, Owner
We are from Karachi and for 35 years we had a shop at Khori Garden, an historical area that old readers must be familiar with. I entered the field of books at the age of 11. Around 25 years ago, it used to be like we would got two books and there would be 100 customers for them, and they would fight over the books. With the craze of IT since then, we were getting the impression that the craze of books will decrease, but after about 15 years, we feel like people are once again gravitating towards books.
The economic conditions of the country are such that everyone cannot afford books. Books seem even more expensive than gold. Out concept is to sell books at the cheapest price possible. Our price is even less than pirated editions; we are selling books worth PKR 6000 for only PKR 300. So customers are picking 20 books instead of one.
When we attend such exhibitions, all the publishers are under one roof which makes it easier for the customers, and it also encourages us that there are still people who read. We have noticed that girls are a lot more interested in reading than boys. It is up to the parents to inspire their children. There are many who collect pocket money all year round for the Karachi Expo event. So it seems like we are turning back towards books, and it is very heartening.
There are people who have entire libraries at home and are passionate about their collection, although this craze is ending because there often isn’t enough space to make libraries in houses anymore. We have a lot of stock that we can’t display here. The stalls are very expensive. The government should give us free of cost space, and we can pass that benefit on to the customers.
Francis Dsouza
Liberty Books, Senior Manager
We are trying to promote book reading in Pakistan – in Lahore and Karachi, everywhere – and we try our best to have book signings for people so that they get updated knowledge of books – the authors come and sign the book and give them a lecture about the book. We have activities running always, one or two activities every month. And we also try to promote in school exhibitions so that children get to buy some books, and we offer a good discount to them so that they are affordable for them. In our store, we also have a discounted section for customers who like to buy cheaper books, and we have a variety of books for everybody. We try our best to promote education and reading.
We should always keep in mind that children need to learn, and guide them to go towards reading. In the future it is good for them. It is [vital] to understand the importance of reading so that a person gets more educated and knows how to [improve their] life. So that’s why I think reading is always a good thing to promote.
Haroon Siddiqui
Siddiqui Rare and Antique Books, Owner
If we talk about books … like, this Lahore International Book Fair is taking place, it has its own importance – people can get all kinds of books on all kinds of topics in one place. The routine trend of books is declining these days. Mobiles and the Internet have made a huge impact. But the importance of books can never decline, because books don’t teach us wrong things – if mobiles are in our hands, then many wrong things appear in front of us and our children who should stay away from such things. You should bring youngsters towards books instead of mobiles. This will be better for you and your coming generations.
To inspire them, you should have events like this book fair, and you should take children to bookshops. I have seen that when parents buy books for their children, the kids insist that they want to hold their own books. If we hand them a mobile, then how will they be drawn towards books? So it is an appeal to everyone that they should inspire kids and bring them towards books.
Muhammad Hamza Gaziani
The Book Kingdom, Proprietor
Reading has always been a very important thing in everyone’s life – it gives you knowledge, it gives you experience. If, for instance, you are reading an autobiography, you’re going to get to know what the struggles of that person were and how he gained all that success, that knowledge. So reading helps you gain knowledge and [learn from] the experiences of people, which eventually helps you get successful in your life.
We can encourage people to read by doing more events like book fairs and by giving them the best prices we can so that every person can afford a book, and every person can buy a book so that they get encouraged in reading.
Muhammad Sajid Iqbal
Readings, Imports Manager
A lot of things have been added to our society that do give us some benefit but in the long run we can’t symbolize them in our lives. The biggest issue we are facing right now is that of social media. Our new generation is attracted to these new things, and book reading is taking a backseat. Book was always a very important element in the evolutionary process, and I think it still is and will remain. These things won’t end. In our childhood we saw that there was a wonderful trend of Eid cards, which was a lovely gesture in which people would interact with each other one way or another. Now that interaction has ended. Society has dispersed at that level. So it’s better that we should tell the new generation that social [media] interaction is important but it is not important enough that because of it we forget these traditions and things.
Asim Malik
Oxford University Press, Assistant Manager
Reading is the most valuable asset in this world. We at Oxford have been serving this [field] from the late 1800s, and we are well known in the publishing industry. I believe reading and knowledge is much more important than any other activity in this world because it’s healthy, [and it helps people grow].
[To inspire people to read] we must publish as much as we can. It is a digital world today, but I think the importance of physical books is still there and one should appreciate it. Rather than using digital tablets and gadgets, one should be promoting reading [books] as much as they can.
- By Sameen Amer
Us Magazine, The News International - 14th February, 2025 *
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