Public libraries to be restored in Karachi: commissioner

A Council of Libraries is formed to work on the revival and improvement of libraries in the city

KARACHI: Public libraries run by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), District Municipal Corporations (DMC) and other government departments, which have been neglected or are in need of improvements, will be restored.

This was decided by the city administration during a meeting chaired by Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani on Thursday. Officials of KMC and Defence Housing Authority (DHA), DMC Comissioners, Liaquat National Library director and representatives of other organisations with established libraries such as the British Council, Notre Dame Institute of Education and Alliance Française, and others were present at the meeting.



A Council of Libraries was formed with the intention that the council will work out a plan for the revival and improvement of libraries. The council comprised representatives from the administrative authorities and the libraries. The commissioner was briefed about the current conditions of the libraries and it was decided that British Council and Alliance Française will provide support and assistance for public libraries. The government-owned libraries are to be updated and restored through better management.



It was pointed out at the meeting that most of the libraries owned by KMC and DMCs are not sufficiently publicised. The meeting noted that there is a lack of sign boards on the main roads directing towards public libraries. The commissioner stressed on the need for a central public library, which meets international standards, in the city.

The library in Frere Hall for instance is historic and part of the city’s heritage yet it remains in deplorable condition. He also wanted to ensure the presence of public libraries in each town of the city and asked municipal commissioners to play their part in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2019.