By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Emphasizing the importance of book-reading on the culminating day of the year 2020, the Director-General at the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration Syeda Shafaq Hashmi said that what can be a better way to enter the New Year than picking up a good book, exercising your brain and feeding your inquisitiveness.
Syeda Shafaq Hashmi said this at an event organized under the campaign “ISLAMABAD READS” launched by the Chief Commissioner Office ICT with the aim to promote book-reading culture in the capital.
The event was jointly organized by the Department of Libraries, ICT, and Bykea at G-11 Public Library in Islamabad on Thursday.
At the brink of new year, vowing to be an avid book reader!#IslamabadReads
Some clicks from today’s event organized by Department of Libraries, ICT, and Bykea at G11 public library.#31stDec2020 #positiveinitiative @cda_environment@ICTA_GoP @DrMAbdullahTab1 @dcislamabad pic.twitter.com/4Mqxo6x9oZ— Syeda Shafaq Hashmi (@ShafaqHashmiPAS) December 31, 2020
The director-general said that the Chief Commissioner Islamabad has been particularly keen to promote book reading amongst citizens of the capital and has directed to launch mobile libraries to make books available to all desirous citizens of the capital.
The mobile libraries shall be in the field by the end of January.
Syeda Shafaq Hashmi said that the Department of Libraries, ICT is rehabilitating all public libraries in sectors G-7, G-8, G-11, F-11, I-8, and I-10.
Moreover, all the data of libraries has been digitally cataloged to help the public check the availability of books at various libraries on subjects of their interest.
Additionally, the department is collaborating with community members in various sectors to establish smaller libraries across the city, starting from next week.
The director-general ICT also announced the Islamabad Reads- Creative Talent Contest-2021 including articles/essays, sketching/painting, and poems categories which will be open to all citizens in various age group categories.
