EDITIRAL
Dying Reading Culture in Pakistan
Learning is divine. Humans are born to learn. Learning comprises experiences, imagination, sharing and reading. Then, reading is the best means to understand the ends of life. Reading is the easiest and swiftest way to comprehend, learn and understand. The invention of printing machines revolutionized the human thirst for learning, knowledge and comprehension. Books are the best things that have happened to humankind. The digital world has further revolutionized learning processes, as now, reading may be the simplest way to access knowledge, information and data. Then, on one side, it has supported the cause of learning, and on other side, it has commercialized learning. All those aspects of knowledge which are not commercially viable are least learnt. Then, a developing country like Pakistan suffers harder, as the reading culture is declining.
Critics attribute that the reading culture in Pakistan has almost died. There are multiple reasons behind it. The orientation of society is becoming like that, and only commercial learning is acquired. The focus of education and reading is on retail careers. Therefore, there is a need to differentiate between skills and knowledge. Skills are developed, and knowledge is sought. The reading provides poetic justice to the aesthetical design of a human being. Furthermore, it provides imagination, vision and comprehension of the things around him. Hence, it is critical to learn and read for aesthetical perfection together with acquiring a compulsory taste of the world of knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, it is believed that the students of competitive examinations are the only group who are reading and that too, for the sake of getting jobs. Without civil service examinations in Pakistan, there would have been no reading culture in Pakistan.
The reading culture of books, magazines, and paper has almost died. The fundamental reason is the emergence of digital learning. Then it is also discouraging to see that fewer people connect with digital media for reading or learning. One of the fundamental reasons for the decay is the commercialization of writing. Therefore, the original content is not available, and original readers find it hard to get aesthetical pleasure from the commercial writing. Then, it is also almost only possible to sustain qualitative writing with the support of sponsors. Therefore, a striking balance is essential to keep the process of literary production and dissemination.
Undoubtedly, video, images and digital learning have subsided the appeal of reading; however, a sizable conservative audience still wants to read. Resultantly, public and private partnerships are essential so that reading culture may be restored. Reading culture is critical for the growth and development of the state and society. Pakistan should prioritize developing a culture of reading and learning.
