Faisalabad: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) launched its annual Kisan Mela on Tuesday, with a prominent book fair marking the first day’s events. The Kisan Mela will run until October 9, while the book fair will conclude on October 5. This year’s fair features 33 stalls displaying over 100,000 books, offering a wide range of literature.
The Kisan Mela is set to include an array of activities, such as an agricultural exhibition, an art and literature festival, tent pegging competitions, a food and nutrition mela, a farmers’ convention, a photo exhibition, a greyhound race, Kabaddi matches, a Gur Mela, a dog show, a Sufi night, poetry competitions, and a mares competition.
During the book fair’s inaugural ceremony, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad emphasized the importance of promoting reading habits, noting that books remain humanity’s steadfast companions.
Dr. Muhammad Riaz Virk, convener of the Kisan Mela, highlighted the event’s role in bringing together agricultural scientists, farmers, policymakers, industry representatives, and people from various fields to collaborate on agricultural sustainability and development.
Dr. Sohail Sajid, convener of the book fair, noted the wide range of topics covered, from science and history to literature, Islamic studies, engineering, and medicine, attracting significant attention from students and the local community. Librarian Umar Farooq added that the fair is drawing a large crowd, showcasing over 100,000 books for both university students and book enthusiasts from the surrounding area.
