World Book Day 2020 celebration muted by COVID-19 lockdown

Pakistan News & Features Services

The World Book and Copyright Day, more commonly known as the World Book Day, having become one of the most significant dates in the scholastic circles, witnessed muted celebrations on April 23, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. 

The World Book Day was being celebrated with growing enthusiasm in Pakistan during the last few years as the various stakeholders took the responsibility of spreading awareness about reading, publishing and copyright. 

Larger number of universities and other educational institutions, besides governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as commercial entities had made a point to hold World Book Day awareness events like walks and seminars on April 23 in the recent past but this could not be possible due to the pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The UNESCO, alongwith the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry, publishers, booksellers and libraries, had been proactively involved in celebrating the World Book Day in a splendid manner. 

The momentum may have been lost at the moment for obvious reasons but it’s being hoped that these institutions will go an extra mile in meeting the challenge as the books will serve the purpose of a good companion during the days of the current forced break. Reaching out the masses, particularly youth, and facilitating them in acquiring books needs to be looked into.