PLA Sindh, PBWG celebrate World Book Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Branch of the Pakistan Library Association (PLA), with the collaboration of the Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group (PBWG), organized a programme to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day at the Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi, on April 22.

Chaudhary Mohammad Nazir, Director General, National Library of Pakistan (NLP), presided over the ceremony which was also attended by Khawaja Mustafa, President, PLA Sindh, and Abdul Samad Ansari, President, Bazm-e-Akram, and Deputy Director, PBWG. 

Dr Nasreen Shagufta, Secretary, Bazm-e-Akram, and Editor, Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal (PLISJ), presented the vote of thanks in which she complimented the organizers for holding the ceremony besides acknowledging the guests of honour and the participants. 

It was a welcome initiative of the PLA Sindh and the PBWG with the presence of quite a few library professionals as well as the representatives of the publishing business making the event a significant one.

Abdul Samad Ansari, President, Bazm-e-Akram, and Deputy Director, PBWG, reckoned that such efforts could be helpful in raising awareness about the importance of public libraries in particular which play a critical role in bringing various communities closer to each other. 

Khawaja Mustafa, President, PLA Sindh, emphasized that all civil societies in the world considered public libraries as a fundamental component of their life. 

He informed that there were more public libraries (16,541 to be precise) in the United States of America (USA) the number of McDonald’s outlets over there as each neighbourhood carried pride in its public library and all educational institutions housed huge libraries where books on almost any subject could be found.

It was regretted that public libraries have been a victim of gross neglect by the governments and philanthropists in Pakistan with the odd exception people like the late Hakim Mohammad Saeed who was an ardent advocate of libraries and had approved a plan for a City Library in Karachi during his governorship which was subsequently shelved. 

The Government of Sindh was requested to put in their share in the development of public and school libraries in the province.