BISP Chairperson calls for promoting reading culture on World Book, Copyright Day

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Apr, 2026) Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid Thursday emphasized the importance of books as the foundation of knowledge, awareness and societal development.

In her message on World Book and Copyright Day, the chairperson stated that the progress of any society depends on the promotion of education and reading habits, stressing that fostering a love for books among the younger generation is the need of the hour.

Highlighting the role of knowledge in addressing socio-economic challenges, she said education remains the most effective tool to eliminate poverty and backwardness.

Rubina Khalid underlined that women’s education and reading are key to ensuring their empowerment and autonomy, adding that the Benazir Income Support Programme is committed to promoting awareness and education among underprivileged women.

She said that the vision of “a book in every home and a pen in every hand” should be a shared national goal.

Referring to the digital age, she noted that the importance of books has not diminished but rather increased.

While artificial intelligence can provide information, books offer depth, insight, and critical thinking.

“Algorithms may influence our preferences, but books shape our character,” she remarked, adding that technology provides convenience, but the true essence of knowledge is preserved in books.

She further said that books cultivate critical thinking and tolerance, whereas machines primarily process data. In the era of artificial intelligence, staying connected with books makes individuals more thoughtful and distinctive.

Encouraging a balanced approach, she urged the younger generation to adopt reading habits alongside engagement with the digital world.

Connecting women and youth with books, she said, is essential for building a conscious and strong society.

Concluding her message, she said World Book and Copyright Day serves as a reminder to renew commitment towards promoting knowledge, reading, and research.