Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS) Vol. 33, No. 2 (2013), pp. 311-320 Gender Differences in Reading Habits of University Students: An Evidence from Pakistan Muhammad Dilshad Assistant Professor, Department of Education, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. dilshadiub@hotmail.com Ali Adnan Lecturer in Education,Govt. Degree College, Fazilpur(Rajanpur), Pakistan. aliadnan47@yahoo.com Aisha Akram Visiting Lecturer, Department of Management Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Abstract: This study aimed at exploring gender differences in reading habits of university students in Pakistan. The data was collected through a questionnaire from 1050 male and female students of three universities located in Punjab province. The results show that the reading habits of male and female students were somewhat different depending upon their objective, liking, timing of study and other factors. Female students exhibited comparatively more positive attitude towards reading as compared to their male counterparts. It is recommended that teachers at universities must play an active role in motivating, guiding and supervising students for developing positive reading habits especially among male students. Libraries of higher education institutions should be well equipped with a variety of printed and electronic reading materials, and must provide students with conducive reading environment. Keywords: Reading preferences; Reading habits; Cultural differences; Language differences; Gender differences I. Introduction Reading, a lifelong habit, is the major source of access to the knowledge. It is taken as an implicit practice that supports an individual to achieve original power and develops one’s critical thinking capability. Reading habit, thus, is considered as an essential means for the development of personal traits, mental abilities, getting knowledge, information and understanding of an individual (Clark & Rumbold, 2006).According to Özbay (2006), individual reading preferences differ in terms of interest, attention, aptitude and situation. Reading interest, curiosity or inclination seems to be differing with different age levels. Boys and girls have different reading habits and reading aptitudes; girls enjoy reading more than boys. Clark and Foster (2005) are of the view that girls prove to be more positive than boys towards reading. But in school years, boys read more for getting a good job in future while girls read for fun and for some break. Gender and background have an effect on reading abilities of students.