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12 Mar, 2017

T2F (formerly The Second Floor) launched its bookstore facilitated by a bookshop, Mr Old Books, on Saturday evening.

The two-day event began at 6pm on Saturday with a short video, made by Dawn.com, about the decline in the number of old bookshops in the old city areas. These, among others, included famous bookstores such as Thomas and Thomas at Regal Chowk in Saddar. The owner of the shop, it was shown, was given multiple offers to move his establishment so that a fast-food outlet could be built in its place.

Similarly, it was shown that many bookstores were closed down either under pressure by other businesses or due to sharp decline in sales.

An interview with one such shop owner revealed that people no longer visit bookshops and if in case a bookseller dies, there is no one who could replace him or take responsibility of running the bookshop. This is where T2F comes in.

Speaking to Dawn, director of T2F Ellia Khan said that the idea behind the bookstore launch was to provide space to bookstall and bookstore owners to present their books.

“The whole idea is to revive the number of projects at T2F. We are working very closely with Mr Old Books at Boat Basin, a lot of the collection that we curated has been provided by them. Some books have been exchanged with Mr Old Books. They saw our collection and liked our books and in exchange we got a number of new books as well. This is how we are working toge­ther,” she added.

Explaining the concept of a monthly book bazaar, Ms Khan said that books donated to T2F by donors were presented at the bazaar.

At present, T2F is being revamped. Fiza Khatri and Asad Alvi have been hired respectively to look after the art collections at the Faraar Shop and to curate, fix and standardise the bookstore. The bookshelf includes books belonging to English, Russian and Urdu literature. Urdu translations of English and Russian literature are also kept, says Asad Alvi.

From then on­­wards, the open mic session, known as Nakaam Ishq Society, presented poetry, songs and quotes from those present at the event.


Originally published in Dawn, March 12th, 2017

Comments

a Mar 12, 2017 01:56pm
Oh I miss going to Ragoon Walla Library, and another Library near Karachi TV ( I don't recall its name).
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Ali Mar 12, 2017 01:59pm
Nice.....want many many more.
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Sufi Mar 12, 2017 02:49pm
Have lot of paperbacks novel.need to dispose due to shifting of residence.
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riz Mar 12, 2017 04:32pm
awesome,, yes we need to promote book reading in Pakistan,, also our celebrities need to step forward and promote books, also our journalist need to ask politicians, actors and other media people about their favorite books what they are reading now instead of what color you like,, this is what our nation need today,,
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omveer Mar 12, 2017 06:11pm
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. Unfortunately, the modern generation, is too electronic savvy and are depriving themselves of one of the greatest pleasures..... The pleasures of reading. Kudos to Dawn for publishing such stories for bookworms​ of Karachi.
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AMEER HAMZA Mar 12, 2017 08:55pm
@a Near TV station is Liaqat library.
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AMEER HAMZA Mar 12, 2017 08:56pm
@Sufi If you have books on history, please give them to me. Otherwise, you can sell or gift your collection at Regal chowk on Sundays.
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Red Mar 12, 2017 08:59pm
@riz so what book you are reading these days? In your free time.
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a Mar 12, 2017 09:53pm
Everywhere in the world, internet on the go has killed reading habits. Who buys books anyways ? The charm of a book release , with a gathering to interact with the author , I guess its all dead and buried now. Publishers are struggling to make ends meet, or are closing down.
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N_Saq Mar 12, 2017 10:29pm
Libraries and books are the most important thing in a nations civil development. It is through books human mind start to think and develop imagination. That is why there are libraries at every corner in the West and parents start bringing their kids to the libraries at a tender age of two or three. If Pak needs to make progress and enter the 21st century then Pak should be building libraries instead of Mausoleums in their leaders and others name.
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syed Nazim Mar 12, 2017 11:27pm
Because of acute transportation and parking problems in Karachi there should be some cheap and efficient system of delivery of books at houses.
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Zak Mar 12, 2017 11:41pm
Saddar had so many book stores in the past, but unfortunately now its so pitiful to see boot houses replaced those book shops.
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Fahad Farooq faisal Mar 13, 2017 12:14am
@riz Well said, Riz!
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naji Mar 13, 2017 01:06am
Any idea about its location? I am an old book lover, when books were on sale at Regal cinema footpath, one book shop in front of Regal cinema, All converted in to electronics shop. No one in Karachi is interested in Books and striving for real knowledge.
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A Mar 13, 2017 02:58am
@ Ameer Hamza, thanks. It was 2001 to 2005. I guess Mr Khalid Anum was music teacher Rangoon Walla. I wonder if he still works there? Good old days.
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Sweetwahala Mar 13, 2017 04:21am
@omveer they work better than sleeping pills
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BBW Mar 13, 2017 05:40am
Reading is important -- particularly the fine novels by Harold Robbins.
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Tiny think tank Mar 13, 2017 06:46am
There is a paucity and drought as far as books & libraries are concerned, few people visits DHA library,while other libraries are shabby uttered with dust, and no new books or current affairs are available.It's difficult to read books in common libraries with devotion due to notorious loadsheddings.The people of Metroplitan are caught in vicious circle of facing loadsheddings,traffic jams,road closures,stinks all the way on roads & streets. Anyway if T2F is converted into real library, a non- political academic place,the students or readers may benefit. No doubt people wants to be educated and civilized,to live as honorable,peaceful, law abiding citizens.
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Yasir Mar 13, 2017 06:49am
@Zak haha yes i agree saddar was awesome before.
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hassan Mar 13, 2017 11:13am
@Sufi donate them to t2F then
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Your Name Mar 14, 2017 04:19am
@a Not true at all. Lots of people read. It would just be nice if more people did educate themselves more.
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