Rawalpindi to have another street library
Book lovers look over books in the first street library on Murree Road, Rawalpindi. PHOTO: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has given the approval to build another street library in Committee Chowk after the successful experiment of a street library along with Miyawaki forest to promote book reading among the public including the youth and women.
A mega project has also been prepared to build street libraries in all major amusement parks of Rawalpindi including in Allama Iqbal Park, Rawal Park, Ayub Park.
Street libraries in city parks will be built in collaboration with Cantonment boards and Pakistan Horticulture Authority.
Work on the new street library at Committee Chowk (Kabutar Chowk area) will be started on March 10. The project will cost a total of Rs. 0.5 million built under Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) without any financial contribution from the government. These street libraries will be completely waterproof, also protected from wind and storms. Each street library will have a government employee.
Young students will be able to take any of these books on their ID cards to read at home
RDA Chairman Tariq Murtaza told The Express Tribune that books were now being augmented in the street library adjacent to the Miyawaki forest.
He said that the interest of the youth in reading books was on the rise. The new street library at Committee Chowk will be completed and made operational in a month.
The proposal to build a modern street library in all parks of Rawalpindi city and Cantonment areas has also been approved.
The PHA and Cantonment boards will also be taken into confidence for street libraries in amusement parks, he said.
“We want street libraries to be set up in all amusement parks and major metro bus stations in Rawalpindi, he said that the real knowledge is in these books,” he said.
He said that we wish our youth to come back to libraries and learn about Islamic, historical, the history of Pakistan and modern sciences.
He further said that a profile of political leaders, biographies and books were included in the street library adjacent to the Miyawaki Forest.
Youngsters Khalid Abbasi and Faisal Khan said that they had read books in the street library adjacent to Miyawaki forest. They came for a walk in Miyawaki forest. They said that youth could enjoy reading by sitting on the benches or grass.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2022.