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Junaid Akram is buying books for lots of strangers to promote reading culture in Pakistan

Junaid Akram is buying books for lots of strangers to promote reading culture in Pakistan

The comedian offered to bring hard-to-find books from Dubai and Pakistani bibliophiles jumped at the opportunity
Updated 07 Mar, 2017

Last night, Junaid Akram made bibliophiles in Pakistan an offer they couldn't refuse.

The comedian who currently resides in Dubai is making a trip to Pakistan and has decided that he wants to put his 20kg luggage allowance to good use.

On his Facebook page, he shared that he's "traveling back to Karachi this weekend and I have 20KGS of luggage available since I travel light. So instead of carrying badaam pistay (dry fruits) for someone else, I have a better idea.

"I'm headed to Bookworld by Kinokuniya in a few hours which is the largest bookstore in Dubai with one of the best collection of books. So if you're an avid reader and you really really wanted a book but it's not available anywhere in Pakistan, please let me know. I'll get it for you (and probably even deliver it to you if I'm in your city). And don't even worry about the cost, kindly accept it as a gift from me."

Say whaaaa?

Junaid assures his Facebook followers that this is not a "marketing gimmick". He believes that if there's "anything that'll take us out of the darkness, [it's] books... I just want to propagate a culture wherein when I enter a coffee shop, I would love to see more people reading books than taking pointless selfies."

Diverse requests came pouring in, ranging from autobiographies like The Artist: Being Iniesta to self-help reads such as Edward De Bono's Lateral Thinking.

He also had a few unreasonable requests.


Junaid's kind offer is not only getting coveted books into the hands of eager readers, but also appears to be laying the foundations of a book-sharing community!


Kudos to Junaid Akram for taking this much-needed initiative. Here's hoping he's inspired many others to follow his example.

Comments

Raja amjad Khan Mar 07, 2017 12:51pm
That ,s a great spirit my dear.I,ll be grateful, if you would provide me Book of Bertrand Russel(science and religion)... Regards Raja Amjad Khan Quaid-i-azam university Islamabad
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riz Mar 07, 2017 01:16pm
waaoo brilliant,, what an idea for trading books,, amazing,, I see many people Karachi Islamabad (mostly elites) whos book shelves are full of books (for many who didn't read) can give to someonw who really want to read and unable due to price (who in Pakistan will buy a book of 3000-4500 ruppess) trading books is a excellent and much need idea,,
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Bossman Mar 07, 2017 01:28pm
Vote Junaid Akram for PM !
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waqas Ali Mar 07, 2017 02:15pm
my name is waqas Ali belong to balochistan I have been preparing for css examination i need some history book which could increase my knowledge and make me able to pass css exam
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ASHAR Mar 07, 2017 03:04pm
Very good initiative Junaid. This will bring lots of positive in the society and will change the thinking direction of several people.
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Jazzy Mar 07, 2017 03:25pm
We pakishtanis r only interested in making money in whatever way possible.Our founder said that education is a matter of life and death for Pakistan and how badly our representatives have let us down.Welcome to the fourth world.
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Hamza Mar 07, 2017 04:06pm
All good and well wishes, i hope they don't end up as samosa cover somewhere.
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zehreela Mar 07, 2017 04:52pm
Impressive, best gift!
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sajjad Mar 07, 2017 04:55pm
hi Junaid, i dont have your contact and i am not on facebook so sorry to do this here if it turns out that you get too many requests and that 20kgs are not enough i would be very happy to bear cost for any extra luggage you need to buy to get the books to karachi. i hope there are too many requests. i know this may mean more work for you but your cause is fantastic and i would really like to be part of it. you have my email address so do let me know. thanks
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Absar Mar 07, 2017 05:26pm
I love the idea! awesome
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wasif Mar 07, 2017 06:04pm
Very good initiative. @Bilal Raaid, I will get you the annals of unsolved from london by 25th March. You pass on the books.
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Mahmood Mar 07, 2017 06:36pm
Add these two literary gems to your collection: 1)'Unbroken'- by Laura Hillenrandt (of Seabiscuit Fame) A true inspiring story of survival, determination and beating all odds of man who lived after being adrift at sea for 21 days, survived WWII torture at the hand of his Japanese captors, and despite leg injuries, lived to climb trees and mountains in his 80s. - 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' - By Khalid Husseni - a saga based between Afghanistan and Pakistan that will make you appreciate life and make the hardened person mellow and humble. Happy Reading. Two of the greatest books you'll ever read.
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Tiny think tank Mar 07, 2017 07:48pm
Must appreciate Junaid for this gestures. I suggest you to come on TV and relay an educational programmed with your lively style.Although books have relevance but limited coverage,come on any good TV Channel.
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Maria Mar 07, 2017 10:23pm
Lovely idea!! I'm inn!
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javed qamer USA Mar 08, 2017 12:42am
Great work Junaid. People in Pakistan do not read books. Anytime i go to pakistan I look around to see a library in a home. I have never found one. It seems people are busy discussing politics, watching TV, eating out and praying. I applaud Junaid. Way to go.
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Jamal Mar 08, 2017 01:07am
Great PR, bro
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Shakeel Ahmed Mar 08, 2017 01:14am
i need a book written by late Eqbal Amed a promenient political thinker in south asia region book name is CONFRONTING EMPIRE
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Lubna mir Mar 08, 2017 01:52am
Thanks for this kindhearted act..would you please search books on teacher's training.... Specially Estifen Kawi's books...Early child hood Education.... History books ect..am a teacher and i always needed books for teaching purposes... I have been teaching since last 20 years.. Books on curriculum development are also needed.. Thanks. Lubna mir Former Teacher at Headstart schooling system.
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AYZA Mar 08, 2017 05:18am
How admirable of Junaid Akram to engage in such a worthy endeavor! BTW, PIA at one time used to transport books and school supplies to needy children in Pakistan from the USA. Many people including American and Pakistani origin schoolchildren donated new books and supplies which PIA flew to Pakistan w/o any luggage fee. How times have changed for our once "best of the best" airline.
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Mumtaz AHMED SHAH Mar 08, 2017 08:07am
Junaid Akram's initiative is highly appreciated for promoting reading culture in Pakistan and to take out the masses out of darkness. An average student can't afford to buy expensive books particularly professional books . We pray for your long life and prosperity ( Texas )
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Puma Mar 08, 2017 09:43am
@Raja amjad Khan At the same time read something like "Against Method" , unless you want to confuse scientific knowledge with Truth .
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Observer Mar 08, 2017 04:57pm
I feel so glad to know about it. One man can make difference. One candle kind ward off darkness. What if the idea is taken to next level. If there is an organization to coordinate and collection in Pakistan, Pakisatni living abroad will be happy to bring books and deliver it to the organization. This can be further extended if books are ordered from Pakistanis abroad for delivery to this organization for onward delivery to those who need the books.
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Saharish Mar 08, 2017 05:06pm
I've always felt Pakistan has loads of books. I've always bought books from here and taken them back to the Middle East! I'm working on getting my new children's book here too! I Will Not Clean My Room. For more info see www.facebook.com/myjourneytojannahseries
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aRJ Mar 09, 2017 09:16am
Hi: I am sure the book I am searching for many years would not be available in Dubai, but the big book lovers group here may help me in this regard. If anyone has a copy of (soft or hard) of "Then Came Hazrat Ali by D. F. Karaka, Published by Self Published, Bombay, 1972 (original in English, not a translated one), please let me know. This book is out of print and some old copies are available on the internet that are way too costly. I have a pdf copy of its translation in Urdu but I want to read the original text by the author. Thanks
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Mehwish Kayani Mar 09, 2017 01:24pm
This is such a positive idea and actually a positive work to do.. keep it up!
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sameen raza Mar 10, 2017 08:00pm
appreciable!
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