President Alvi appreciate role of National Book Foundation in promoting literacy & book reading culture in the country

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (SABAH): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday directed to take necessary actions aimed at greater access of the visually impaired to books and knowledge. President Dr. Arif Alvi appreciated the role of the National Book Foundation in promoting literacy and book reading culture in the country.

Chairing a meeting to review the role and performance of National Book Foundation at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Dr. Arif Alvi said that the intellectual and individual development was possible by promoting the culture of book reading in the country. He said availability of books and knowledge in braille for the visually impaired was a welcome move.

During the meeting, Managing Director NBF Dr. Raja Mazhar Hameed briefed the president about role and performance of the Foundation. He said the National Book Foundation was taking measures for the people affected by dyslexia. The meeting was told that the Foundation was preparing books for the dyslexic children from class prep to 8th that would be available during the academic year 2024-25. It was informed that the Foundation’s Braille Press in Karachi was providing the books to the visually impaired for Rs 10 only. The books would help increasing the access of the visually impaired children to education. “The Foundation would issue the books for the visually impaired children of class prep to 8th of 431 schools of Islamabad.” It was further informed in the meeting that the NBF was publishing books in braille on a range of topics and it was also ensuring the availability of books in Pakistan and abroad.

Meanwhile President Dr. Arif Alvi telephoned the families of 20 soldiers who were martyred in a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan on December 12 and conveyed his condolences. During the telephonic interaction, the president paid tribute to the martyred soldiers and expressed sympathies for the grieved families. He held telephonic interaction with the family members of havaldars Imran Khan, Muhammad Jamil, Muhammad Shahab, Fazal Subhan, Daud Shah and Riasat Khan. He also spoke with the families of Naik Mukhtar Ali, Lance Naik Muhammad Ishaq, Muhammad Hayat and Sagheer Ahmed, sopys Rehman Shah, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Fayyaz, Ameer Hussain, Adnan, Muhammad Naseer, Waqarullah Khan, Wali Khan, Zulfiqar and Nabeel Akhtar.

President Alvi strongly condemned the terrorist attack and saluted the soldiers who embraced martyrdom for the homeland. He also paid tribute to the soldiers on behalf of the whole nation for their services to the country and expressed gratitude to their respective families. The president also prayed to Allah Almighty for elevation of the stature of martyrs in paradise and patience for the bereaved families.