Lahore International Book Fair
When – March 1st – March 5th
Where – Expo Center, Johar Town, Lahore
Timing – 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Lahore, Pakistan’s Punjab province capital, is known as the “city of colleges” due to the city’s large quantity and variety of higher education institutions. In addition to colleges/universities and Social Clubs libraries, Lahore now has over 80 publishing houses, 300 bookstores, and more than 20 public libraries.
In the 13th century, Lahore, heavily influenced by the Delhi Sultanate Empire, became known for its poetry and drew numerous experts from Baghdad and Iran. Education and poetry flourished throughout the 16th century, and much of it has survived to the present day.
Lahore offers numerous literary festivals throughout the year, including the Lahore Literary Festival and the Manto Mela, both of which honour authors and poets while also hosting book releases, mushaira (poetry recitations), calligraphy workshops, and exhibitions. The Lahore International Book Fair is also held in the city.
The LIBF Trust was founded in 2006 by four prominent members of Pakistan’s book trade. Zubair Saeed, Najam Sethi, Saleem Malik, and Mohammad Faisal are their names.
The LIBFT, a non-profit organisation, seeks to advance the cause of book publishing, book sales, and book reading in the country.
The Lahore International Book Festival is a yearly gathering of book enthusiasts, writers, and intellectuals in Lahore, Pakistan. This lively celebration of the written word showcases books from both local and international publishers and authors. It offers a platform for book lovers to come together, share ideas, and revel in the power of literature.
Read: Here’s a List of Upcoming Book Fairs & Literature Festivals in 2023.
Organized by the Lahore Arts Council, a governmental body dedicated to promoting cultural and artistic activities, the festival draws crowds of visitors annually. The Lahore Arts Council is an entity which runs numerous art venues – an open air theatre, auditoriums, and an exhibition gallery with a permanent collection of Pakistani “old masters”.
Its purpose is to promote and maintain Pakistani art legacy, as well as to financially and otherwise support artists of all genres.
In addition, the Lahore Arts Council intends to create a performing arts academy. It offers a one-of-a-kind experience for attendees, allowing them to connect with local and international authors, purchase books, and attend literary events.
The festival also serves as a hub for publishers to display their latest titles and for writers to network and collaborate. The Lahore International Book Festival is widely regarded as one of the largest and most significant cultural events in Pakistan, with a growing popularity year after year.
The festival is packed with exciting activities and events, including book launches, author signings, panel discussions, workshops, book stalls, and cultural performances such as poetry readings, music concerts, and theatrical performances.
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It also features a Children’s Corner with special events designed specifically for kids, such as storytelling and craft workshops. With so much to see and do, the Lahore International Book Festival is a feast for the mind, soul, and senses.
Lahore International Book Expo is a big international book fair held yearly in Lahore, Pakistan. It is held for five days at the Expo Center in Johar Town, Lahore, and attracts thousands of people from all walks of life. It’s a major educational and cultural event in the city.
Lahore has long been a publishing centre, accounting for more than 80% of all books published in Pakistan, and it continues to be the centre of literary, educational, and cultural activities in the country.
Around 165 local and foreign publishers and education-related organisations have set up stalls at the book fair, covering a wide range of topics such as Islam, history, education, computer and information technology, engineering, business management, medical sciences, agriculture, literature, law, and children’s literature.
Foreign publishers from the Middle East, the United Kingdom, the United States, and India are represented at the book exhibition. This year’s book fair will be the first in the spring (there was one in May, 2022) after a three-year break due to COVID, and will take place from March 1st to March 5th.
Read: New Delhi World Book Fair (25th February – 5th March 2023)
The Lahore International Book Festival has a rich history and continues to play a significant role in promoting literary culture in the region.
By providing a platform for writers, publishers, and book lovers to come together and celebrate the written word, the festival has helped to foster a love of reading and writing in the community and has become a key event in the literary calendar of Pakistan.
