The National Book Foundation (NBF) had been offering a membership scheme allowing its members to avail a 50 per cent discount on purchasing books until the inception of the present government.

It came as a shock when the authorities concerned at the NBF announced that due to non-availability of the budget by the Federal Government, they have stopped offering the scheme.

Apart from many benefits of reading, in my view, the biggest one is that reading generates ideas which ultimately pave way for resolving problems creatively.

At present the only viable option students, teachers, doctors, lawyers and others find available for resolving their issues is the use of force.

As a consequence, the whole society suffers.

Secondly, reading books necessitates and enhances concentration and patience, something that has been greatly impaired by the use of mobiles, computers and internet technology.

Undoubtedly, the culture of reading has met with considerable decline all over the world. However, in our case, it would not be wrong to call it a dead culture.

Under these circumstances, the NBF’s membership was a positive move, though at a very small level, towards the revival of reading culture, which sadly has halted due to the government’s insensible policies.

The Punjab government is the forerunner in promoting education-related projects, and after the passing of the 18th amendment, ‘the Punjab Book Foundation’ or similar reading ventures should at least become table-talk. Hopefully, it may trigger other provinces to emulate.

SYED FARHAN BASIT Lahore