KLA President recognized in National Conference

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the Karachi Library Association (KLA), Professor Farheen Mahmood, was recognized during the recently concluded three-day national conference titled ‘Exploring the Nexus: Artificial Intelligence and Libraries’ which was organized by Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak’s Department of Library and Information Science. 

Speaking briefly in the shortened closing ceremony, the KLA President was greeted with warm applause when she recalled the proud moment for the librarians’ community when the President of Pakistan, for the first time in history, had presented awards of excellence to the founders of KLA in recognition of their efforts for the profession during the opening ceremony of Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL) at Sindh Governor House earlier this year. 

She congratulated the organizers of the conference, held from June 28 to 30 with the collaboration of the Department of Computer Science and Central Library of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Upper Dir, which aimed to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with library sciences. 

Attracting speakers and participants from across Pakistan, including representatives from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Islamabad, and various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the conference provided a platform for academics, researchers, and industry experts to deliberate on the transformative impact of AI on library services, information management, and knowledge dissemination. 

The closing session of the conference was presided over by Vice Chancellor of Khushal Khan Khattak University Karak, Prof Dr Naseeruddin while Prof Dr Muhammad Shahab, Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University and Patron-in-Chief of the event, Dr Akram Sheikh, Director General of PASTIC, and Prof Dr Ali Muhammad Jan, Vice Chancellor of Islamia College University Peshawar, were guests of honour in the opening ceremony.