‘Now book will rule’: Library opens in Bara Bazaar as area rekindles to life

It is named after Dr Rahmatullah who was killed by militants in 2012

PESHAWAR: If you walk through the remains of demolished shops and markets in Bara Bazaar, a message inscribed on the wall of a newly constructed library is likely to draw your attention. The message is simple, strong and imbued with meaning –Now, book will rule.

At first glance, the library appears to be little more than a simple structure. However, the building has a horrific past attached to it. The person it is named after fell victim to the militants’ gun in 2012.

Best revenge

The public library is named after Dr Rahmatullah, who was shot dead by militants in 2012 Aka Khel area of Khyber Agency when he was protecting his guests from a private university. They were on a visit to the area. Though he managed to protect his guests, he got several bullets injures and later died at a hospital.

After his death, his family members and friends decided to take the “best revenge” by educating people. They set up Rahmat Trust that works for education and health care in Khyber Agency since 2012. The new library is the part of this mission.



However, improvement in the law and order situation is breathing life in the market and so the library has also been opened.

The purpose of the library is to provide people, especially locals, an avenue to develop their critical faculties. It would also serve as a public space for locals to come together to socialise and forget about the harsh days they have been through.



“Things may finally change and peace will be completely restored in the region,” Asmatullah, the librarian said while talking to The Express Tribune. “Although the library may take some time to establish firm roots among the people, there is no doubt it could have a very durable impact.” Here books are being offered that have been collected from people from different parts of the region as everyone wants to play his role in this cause.

Access to the library is free of charge but so far only 100 people have made signed up for membership despite the passage of five months. People can borrow books for at least two weeks, but for that they have to register themselves with the library, which is the first one in Khyber Agency.

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Many tribes people, though they cannot read, also come to the library, as they want to see the new environment and children reading in library.



Need to pace up

People of the tribal areas have also shown great interest in education however, it is the volatile condition due to which the educational institutes were let to thrive. The government has also not ensured even basic education for people in the tribal areas.

According to a survey conducted by the FATA Secretariat and Bureau of Statistics, war has left the tribal belt in tatters. Besides its impacts on other sector, education is the most affected area. At least 44.2% children in Fata have never been enrolled in a school. However, as per the survey, Khyber Agency has the highest literacy rate with 49.4% of people above the age of 10 being literate.

The survey estimates that overall literacy rate in Fata is 33.3% .There is a marked gender gap in literacy as male adult literacy rate in Fata is 45%, whereas the same for women is a mere 7.8%.

“We are running a temporary learning centre in far-flung areas of the agency to impart at least the basic level of education,” Asmatullah said. “Reading helps in creating a tolerant society.”

Asmatullah added a positive change can come only through books and education.

Rights activists believe it was the volatile situation during which books were disgraced and institutions were blown up. However, they have asked philanthropists to donate more books to attract more people toward it.