Library Promotion Bureau celebrates Golden Jubilee in befitting manner

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Library Promotion Bureau (LPB), having played a pivotal role in the development of the profession, celebrated its Golden Jubilee in a befitting manner at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST), Karachi, on February 6. The LPB, founded in 1966, has completed 50 years of its existence. 

The Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium at FUUAST witnessed some of the eminent library scientists of the country sharing their thoughts in a gathering of more than one hundred professionals of different generations having assembled at one platform. Most of the participants were from Karachi with representation also coming from the United States, Canada, Multan and Hyderabad. 

Abdul Samad Ansari and Syed Ahmad Naqvi, both of them seasoned campaigners, conducted the session in lively fashion, enlightening the audience with their invaluable input about the bureau. Fozia Bano, Chief Librarian, FUUAST, delivered the welcome address. 

Dr Asif Ali, Registrar, FUUAST, was the chief guest in the ceremony, presided over by Anwar Shoaib, Acting Chairman, Department of Library Information Science, University of Karachi.

As many as three former chairpersons of the department were also present on the occasion which included Prof Dr Ghaniul Akram Sabzwari, Founder President, LPB, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima and Prof Malahat Kaleem Sherwani, 

Dr Amna Khatoon, Principal, PBWG School of Librarianship, introduced prominent personalities of the bureau which included Abdul Wahab Khan Salim (New York), Muhammad Adil Usmani, Dr Rais A. Samdani, Abdul Samad Ansari and Zainuddin Siddiqui. She also briefly mentioned about the present team of Dr Nasreen Shagufta, Azra Qureshi, and Prof Liaquat Ali Khan. 

Azra Qureshi, Ex-Chief Librarian, Aga Khan University, spoke about the bureau’s English publications and made special mention of the PLISJ Index, Bibliographical Heritage of Pakistan, In Search of Readers and Famous Facts of Muslim World. 

Dr Nasreen Shagufta, former Librarian, Riaz Government Girls College, touched upon the subject of the Urdu publications of the bureau. 

Also an Executive Committee Member of the Cradle Welfare Organization and Secretary of the Bazm-e-Akram, she praised the bureau for promoting LIS publications of books, especially in Urdu. 

Hina Naz, Assistant Librarian, Dr Mahmood Hussain Library, University of Karachi., who had done her master’s thesis on LPB, indicated the problems faced by bureau and proposed their solutions. 

Zain Siddiqui, having worked at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, besides the University of Karachi, discussed about the bureau’s attached organizations like Idara Ketabyat-e-Pakistan and Bazm-e-Akram whom he praised for publishing Adab-o-Kutub Khana regularly for the last many years. 

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Ex-Chairperson, Department of Library Information Science, University of Karachi, who has been the backbone of the bureau, recognized its founder for his competence and devotion in the profession. She recited few poetic verses in his favour. She declared him the leader of the group and prayed for his long life and good health. 

Prof Malahat Kaleem Sherwani, Ex-Chairperson, Department of Library Information Science, University of Karachi, and now the acting Librarian at the Dr Mahmud Hussain Library, congratulated LPB functionaries and prayed that the bureau will also complete its century. She praised Adil Usmani, Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima and Prof Dr Rais Samdani for having worked tirelessly for the LPB. 

Anwar Shoaib, Acting Chairman, Department of Library Information Science, University of Karachi, talked about the faculty of LIS and appreciated the activities of the bureau over the years. 

The LPB Founder, Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, in his address, candidly recalled about the various problems which the bureau was able to overcome and survived. 

He appreciated and thanked Dr. Rubina Bhatti, Chairperson, Department of Library Information Science, Islamia University Bahawalpur, for her wholehearted support by facilitating around 35 subscriptions of the PLISJ and purchasing books of the bureau. 

He confessed having been disappointed once in a while but recorded his appreciation for the firm determination and support of Prof Dr Nasim Fatima for having kept the bureau alive, particularly its publishing programme. He was so much overwhelmed and engulfed with tears and passion when concluding his speech. 

Dr Asif Ali, Registrar, FUUAST, appreciated the contribution of the LPB, observing that those who cultivated writing by pen were always successful and rewarded by the literate community of the country. He also said that research was not possible without libraries thus its benefits were enormous.

Awards and certificates were also presented on the occasion to those having contributed to the cause of the LIS profession in general and the LPB in particular.

Prof Liaquat Ali Khan, Management Secretary, LPB, presented the vote of thanks in which he acknowledged the support of the FUUAST and the donors in making the function possible. 

Meanwhile the messages of Prof Dr Mumtaz Ali Anwar of the Punjab University and Ashraf Shakoori, Chief Editor, Sada-e-Librarian, were read out during the ceremony in which both of them lavishly praised the LPB for continuing to do against all odds for 50 years.