Hats off to the visionary leadership of the Emirate of Sharjah who worked hard and succeeded in developing an educated society. Books are the main source of wisdom. The way His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, supports the educated society is highly laudable (“Sheikh Sultan allocates Dhs2.5m for purchase of latest books for Sharjah’s libraries,” May 6, Gulf Today website).

According to the report, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has ordered to allocate Dhs2.5 million for the purchase of latest titles being showcased at the ongoing 14th annual edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), in a bid to enrich the emirate’s government libraries while also supporting participating publishers from around the world.

The initiative stems from His Highness’s vision to invest in books across varied disciplines in both Arabic and foreign languages to open new horizons for the younger generations to enrich their knowledge and imagination, and at the same time, reinforce the role of libraries in children’s education even in a digital-first environment.

An educated nation is a guarantee of prosperity for a country. His Highness’s vision to invest in books across varied disciplines in both Arabic and foreign languages will develop a nation that will surely make the United Arab Emirates a proud country in the world.

Waseem Aftab — By email