Friday, November 25, 2011

First Pakistani Children's Literature Festival

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Literary festival: Move over web surfing, reading is back in vogue

Published: November 25, 2011

Dr Marilyn Wyatt browses through a book. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS

LAHORE: Over 1,000 private and government schools across Lahore participated in the first Children’s Literature Festival, which kicked off here on Friday at the Children’s Library Complex.

The festival was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who commended the efforts of the organisers in putting together such a festival.

“It is vital to inculcate in children the habit of reading and learning through interactive activities,” said the chief minister while addressing a gathering of students, teachers and parents. Sharif, read a story in Urdu, ‘Rehmdil madaari’, to a crowd of hundreds of young children.

Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid, Baela Raza Jamil of the Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi and Nargis Sultana also spoke at the inauguration ceremony. Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of the US ambassador to Pakistan, addressed the young audience, emphasising the need for children to find pleasure in reading. Mentioning her favourite childhood book character, Nancy Drew, Dr Wyatt said reading is the key to learning. Later, Dr Wyatt also read from Tom Sawyer.

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