Commissioner urges students to maximize affiliation with books; calls for institutional focus on library culture

RAWALPINDI, Oct 14 (APP): Commissioner Rawalpindi Salman Ghani on Wednesday urged students to maximize their affiliation with books and directed educational institutions to prioritize building a robust library culture to foster critical thinking and scholarly growth.

Inaugurating the first-ever two-day mega book fair at Rawalpindi Women University (RWU) along with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zareef, the Commissioner appreciated the university administration for making excellent arrangements and providing a wide variety of contemporary books across diverse disciplines.

Addressing students and faculty during his tour of the book stalls, the Commissioner highlighted that public libraries will be further promoted across the division to restore reading habits, which remain vital for problem-solving and intellectual maturity.

He said that while technological advancements continue to reshape learning, reconnecting youth with structured reading is an essential educational need that institutional library development must actively support.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zareef stated that while students should utilize digital resources and modern tools, cultivating a consistent reading habit remains essential for developing analytical depth, adding that the University’s central library is being upgraded with updated international editions.

After the inaugural, the chief guest toured various book stalls and took great interest in variety of books. He also inquired the students and stall holders about the topics and publishers of books.

Besides book stalls, a number of artworks and handicrafts from the university students were also exhibited which was highly appreciated by the chief guest and the visitors.