ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Readers Club Scheme of National Book Foundation (NBF) has benefitted 301,734 readers from the year 1985-86 till 2016-17, giving the facility to purchase books of their choice on half rates.
“NBF has now set a target to facilitate over 25,000 readers under this scheme during the fiscal year 2017-18 while raising the purchasing limit for the readers upto Rs 6000 from Rs 5000 annually”, an official of NBF told the state-run news agency in Islamabad.
The project benefitted 44,546 readers from the year 1985-86 till 1991-92 with the cost of Rs 7.59 million while the purchasing limit for the readers was Rs 1000.
From 1993-94 to 1997-98, the project benefitted 15,434 readers with the cost of Rs 8.620 million while the purchasing limit for each buyer was raised upto Rs 1500, the official said.
From the year 1998-99 till 2002-03, a total of 34,866 readers availed the facility of purchasing books on discounted price while the cost of the project was Rs 19.996 million and purchasing limit was raised upto Rs 2000.
From the year 2003-04 to 2006-07, the project facilitated 73,239 readers with the cost of Rs 39.884 million.
From the year 2007-08 to 2008-09, a total of 40,391 readers availed the facility of buying books of their choice while the cost of the project was Rs 35.055 million and the purchasing limit was raised upto Rs 3000.
The project remained suspended from the year 2009-10 till 2012-13 due to absence of funds, the official said.
The project, after restoration in the years 2013-14, benefitted 16,781 readers with the cost of Rs 30 million while the purchasing limit was raised upto Rs 5000.
During the year 2014-15, the scheme benefitted 27,761 readers with the cost of Rs 31 million while during the year 2015-16, 23,014 readers availed the facility with the cost of Rs 31.5 million.
During the year, 2016-17, the total number of beneficiaries was 25,702 and the cost was Rs 28.2392 million.
During the year 2017-18, the project has set a target to facilitate over 25,000 readers with the allocated amount of Rs 35.2 million while the purchasing limit was raised upto Rs 6000, the official added.
Readers Club is one of the most public oriented book promotional activity attracting readers to buy books of their choice at half price.
Besides, promoting reading habit, it encourages the overall book industry, help increasing literacy rate, create reasonable demand for good quality reading material and motivating young generation towards developing reading culture in the society.
