I write with deep concern about the alarming decline of book reading habits among Pakistani youth and the deserted state of our libraries. These libraries were once the sanctuaries of knowledge, built to shape a promising future for our nation. Today, they stand as haunted, empty halls while young people gather around TikTok and reels. However, technology alone is not responsible for the decline in reading. Our education system rewards rote learning, not curiosity. A degree no longer requires critical thinking, so students see no value in reading beyond the syllabus. Meanwhile, book prices have risen significantly due to paper costs and taxes, putting them out of reach for middle-class families.
I urge the education authorities to make library memberships free for all students, add a mandatory reading hour in all universities without exams or grading and to launch subsidised mobile libraries for low-income areas.
Urfa Rahman
Islamabad
