World Book Day passes unnoticed as reading culture fades

RAWALPINDI: No events were held across educational institutions or cultural centres in Rawalpindi on Thursday to mark World Book Day, reflecting a broader decline in reading culture and public access to libraries in the city.

Residents and educationists say the city, which once had a thriving reading culture, has witnessed a steady erosion of public libraries and book-related activities over the past decades.

Between 1950 and 2000, Rawalpindi had around 14 public libraries that remained crowded throughout the day, catering to students, working women and young readers. Key reading spaces such as the American Centre and British Centre in Saddar also served as hubs for literary engagement.

Today, those facilities have largely disappeared. Only two government-run libraries — under the municipal corporation and cantonment authorities — exist in name, but lack public accessibility, adequate funding and a diverse collection of books.

Several prominent libraries, including those along Murree Road and in Saddar, have shut down over the years. The well-known Parsi library near Media Gate closed in the 1990s, with commercial outlets replacing former reading spaces.

Attempts to revive reading through mobile libraries and park-based initiatives between 1960 and 2005 failed to sustain momentum. More recently, even an open library project near the Miyawaki forest on Murree Road has been discontinued.

Book markets that once flourished on footpaths during weekends — offering a wide range of titles from history and religion to popular fiction such as the Imran Series and Tarzan — have also dwindled significantly.

Educationists say the decline is further reflected in academic institutions, where book borrowing has reportedly dropped by nearly 80 per cent.

The rise of digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, has contributed to reduced reading habits, with many observers describing the shift as a move away from meaningful literacy towards passive consumption.

UNESCO designated April 23 as World Book Day in 1995 to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The tradition traces its origins to Catalonia, Spain, where books and roses were exchanged to mark literary heritage.

Despite its global significance, the observance in Pakistan is largely limited to routine statements, with little practical effort to revive reading culture.

Headmaster Association President Dr Sagheer Alam said that societies that prioritised reading historically led intellectual progress, warning that neglecting books had contributed to broader decline.