The pervasive rise of social media platforms has precipitated a severe reading slump among the younger generation that is often seen chasing followers, likes and monetisation rather than knowledge. A 2024 Gallup & Gilani Pakistan survey highlights this shift clearly: around 40% of adult Pakistanis are active on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, with engagement particularly high among youths. Two-thirds of Pakistanis under 30 reported using these platforms regularly.

The dying culture of books in Pakistan is obvious from a Gallup Pakistan survey titled "No Room for Books", which reveals that only about 28 per cent of Pakistanis read books beyond academic texts, while a striking 75 per cent of students do not engage in any book reading at all. The rise of social media and other digital distractions has left little room for reading a book.

Books, then, are true friends that always quench the thirst of the reader; they rarely defriend. Their knowledge shields us from ignorance and........

© The Express Tribune