The Punjab University (PU) vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, has said that, in view of the ever increasing prices of books, the PU is considering to publish low price books on a variety of subjects, through the University Printing Press, for t

PU low price books
Lahore: The Punjab University (PU) vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, has said that, in view of the ever increasing prices of books, the PU is considering to publish low price books on a variety of subjects, through the University Printing Press, for the consumption of students' community.

He was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international seminar titled "Azad Sadi" held on the eve of 100th death anniversary of the renowned Urdu prose writer, Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad, at the Sheerani Hall of Oriental College on Wednesday.

Prominent literary figures, intellectuals and men of letters from within the country and abroad, including foreign delegates from India, Japan, Iran and Turkey, attended the seminar.

The VC said the provision of books at economical prices to students would help them study books other than those included in their academic curriculum to enhance their understanding of the world and life.

Lauding the singular services of the Oriental College, the vice chancellor remarked during its 140 years existence, it had served as a cradle of Urdu in this part of the world, producing numerous great masters of Urdu language.

Later, the VC also performed the launching ceremony of five books published by the Oriental College as part of the international seminar comprising manuscripts of Maulana Azad, Azad dictionary, a research journal, taaraf nama comprising prose extracts from Maulana Azadís writing and Intikhab-e-Azad by Dr Aslam Farkhi.

Earlier, Urdu Department chairman Prof Dr Tehseen Firaqi, presenting the welcome address, paid glowing tributes to the great Urdu writer, Maulana Muhammad Hussain Azad, for his multifaceted contributions to Urdu prose and literature, adding that his unique magical prose writing style would not be forgotten even by generations to come.

Dr Muhammad Aslam Farkhi gave a comprehensive life sketch of Maulana Azad, including his extra ordinary literary services. Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar underlined the overriding need for using Urdu language as medium of instructions in educational institutions but also for superior services examination. He said towards this end, the vice-chancellor had already constituted Nafaz-e-Urdu Committee.

Later, Dr Abu Al-Kalam Qasmi and Dr Asghar Abbas (India), Soyamane Yasir (Japan), Muhammad Ikram Chughtai, Dr Rubina Tareen, Dr Muhammad Fakhar-ul-Haq Noori, Agha Salman Baqar, Dr Rauf Parekh, Dr Moeen-ud-Din Aqil, Dr Asghar Bayat (Iran), Dr Qazi Abid, Mobeen Mirza, Dr M Saleem Mazhar, Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir and Dr Aziz Ibn-e-Al-Hassan, presented their papers on the life and literary services of Maulana M Hussain Azad. The news