LAHORE: (Thursday, March 15, 2012): Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah Khan on Thursday inaugurated Pakistan’s largest 3-day book fair of the country, being organized by the varsity administration in the main corridor of Institute of Education & Research (IER), New Campus on Thursday.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Raja Anwar, heads of various departments, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Like previous four years, the varsity administration is organizing this book fair which will continue till March 17 from 9am to 7pm.

Talking to media, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah Khan congratulated Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran for successfully organizing the book fair. He said that he was happy to see upto 50 percent discount on the books and such activities should continue for promotion of knowledge in the society.

He said that the most veteran persons were required for the post of vice chancellor and the government did not want to loose the most experienced persons. He said that the government would maintain 65 years of age criteria in appointment of vice chancellors.

He said that the government would pass legislation to clarify if there was any ambiguity in the law regarding appointment of vice-chancellors.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that education was the only solution to all the problems being faced by the country and books were the source of knowledge. He said that seeking knowledge was an obligation according to the order of the Holy Quran but we were not complying with it and facing problems in the world.

Earlier, the law minister and the vice-chancellor visited various book stalls and also purchased some books. An exclusive addition to the book fair a “Fahm-e-Seerat” exhibition displayed in which huge models of Masjid Nabvi and Ghazva-e-Badar placed at IER for visitors.

As many as 150 renowned publishers, book-sellers, IT companies and career-counseling centres established their stalls and are selling local and foreign books with 10 to 50 percent discount. On the first day, a large number of students, children, political, religious and social leaders, renowned journalists, doctors, lawyers and people from every segment of life visited the book fair. The students, while talking to media, said they through the courtesy of the book fair, they had an opportunity to purchase their curricular and extra-curricular books at the lowest prices and provision of low-priced books, in this age of high-inflation, was an open proof of varsity administration’s knowledge-friendly policy.