Basra:The Palace of Culture and Arts in Basra Governorate is set to launch the fourth edition of the Free Book Fair at the end of this month, featuring participation from ten Iraqi governorates.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the participating governorates include Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Anbar, Baghdad, Diwaniyah, Karbala, Babylon, Maysan, and Dhi Qar, alongside Basra. Basim Hussein Ghadab, the director of the Palace, mentioned that the first shipment of books has already arrived in Basra from Baghdad, with a second shipment expected to follow later today.

The books showcased at the fair have been donated by writers, authors, media professionals, and private libraries, reflecting cultural contributions from the participating governorates. Coordination efforts involved the Department of General Cultural Relations and the Division of Cultural Palaces and Houses to address the logistical challenges of transporting the books from distant locations, with Baghdad serving as a central collection point before the books were sent to Basra.