KARACHI:
Recently, a three-day literary festival was organised in Turbat to commemorate the anniversary of Ata Shad, a modern Urdu and Baloch poet. The festival involved various events, but the highlight of the festival was that books worth 3.5 million rupees were sold within three days. If anything, this shows the passion for literature and knowledge among the Baloch youth.
Unfortunately, though, for the last three years, students in Turbat have been deprived of the public library. The public library inculcated a culture of reading and learning among the younger population. Many college and university students borrowed books from the library and came here to prepare for their assignments and exams. Since the indefinite closure of the library in 2020, students are experiencing many problems in fulfilling their educational tasks, particularly those students who are studying privately. The municipal administration has turned a blind eye to the situation.
Libraries play an important role in the development of any society. Thus, the provincial government should urge the district authorities to reopen the Turbat library. Many girls are unable to attend schools and colleges due to financial and transport issues. Therefore, a separate library for girls should be created so they can undertake their studies privately and interact with other female students to seek help in their studies. Literary festivals should be organised regularly to allow students to engage with professionals from within the province and the country and to promote arts and literature.
Sadaf Ali
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2023.
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