ISLAMABAD: Various types of professional and personal challenges come in the way of journalists attempting to write a book. This was the main crux of a roundtable discussion of journalists, gathered at the National Press Club on Tuesday.

The participants had come together for the launch of the book `The Secrets of Pakistan`s War on Al-Qaeda` authored by working journalist Azaz Syed.

Dozens of journalists and member of civil society attend the launching ceremony, which also included a special discussion on why journalists don`t write books.

Some senior journalists reflected on the question and journalist Rana Jawad said he had discouraged Azaz Syed, who kept a hectic schedule working in the field, from attempting to write a book.

He said that great writing skills, time and financial resources are needed to write a book. `However, Syed`s commitment towards his work proved that passion helps overcome all hurdles,` he said.

Mr Jawad said that Azaz Syed had shown great commitment towards writing this bool(. `It is a great achievement. It is common for western journalists, who have writing expertise as well as resources, to write a book but Syed managed to do this with limited resources,` he said.

Investigative Journalist Umar Cheema said he was expecting Syed to write such a brilliant book. `In this country, it is not very common for journalists to write books and those who do publish books, include their own columns or translations of some popular books,` he said.

This book, he said, is based on first-hand experiences and so worth a read.

Anchorperson Sattar Khan appreciated the writer of `The Secrets of Pakistan`s War on Al-Qaeda`. He said that journalists should only write books only when they have matured and have full command on issues. Anchorperson Absar Alam and Journalist Auon Sahi also appreciated the work of the writer.