LAHORE: (Monday, April 22, 2013): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said that books play important role in the life of nations and universities. He was addressing a ceremony organized by Punjab University Library in connection with World Book and Copyright Day at its Seminar Room here on Monday.

Senator Jahangir Badar, Deputy Chief Librarian Haroon Usmani, chief librarians of various public sector libraries, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Dr Kamran said that the nations who did not read books always remained in the clutches of powerful countries. He said that the main library had rapidly progressed under the leadership of Chaudhry Hanif and library’s environment and services had improved manifold. He also thanked Senator Jahangir Badar for providing a fund of Rs 4 million for Preservation and Conservation Section from federal government. Senator Jahangir Badar said that PU Library was the best and most updated library of the country and the credit went to Chaudhry Hanif. He said that he had learnt a lot from library while writing his PhD thesis.

Chief Librarian Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif thanked Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran for his support for uplift projects. Throwing light on the history of World Book & Copyright Day, Deputy Chief Librarian Haroon Usmani said that on April 23, birth or death anniversaries of renowned authors were celebrated. He said that in 1616, Spanish males used to present flowers to their lovers and in 1925, women started to gift books in return. Later, Book Lover Award was distributed among top 10 book users of PU Library. Dr Khalid Latif, a retired professor of Department of Mathematics and Rabia, student of MA Pakistan Studies stood first while university’s Senior Land Officer Javed Akram stood second and Muhammad Naimatullah of Statistics stood third. Earlier, PU VC and Senator Jahangir Badar inaugurated state-of-the-art Preservation and Conservation Section and Faculty Reading Room.

The ceremonies in connection with World Book Day would continue today and a walk would be organized by Pakistan Library Association and Alumni Association at Department of Library and Information Sciences at 10am and a short seminar will be held at Al-Raazi Hall. Intizaar Hussain, Amjad Islam Amjad and Oriya Maqbool Jan will speak on the occasion.