NLA to celebrate IWD, WBCD

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Fresh from having organized the successful seminar ‘Books are forever’ at the University of Karachi’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18, the National Library Association (NLA) has announced to hold programmes to celebrate the International Women’s Day as well as the World Book and Copyright Day during the next couple of months. 

“We have decided in principle to commemorate both the occasions as they are vitally important to us. We will be holding the International Women’s Day programme during the month of March while the World Book and Copyright Day will be celebrated in April. We are working out the details which will be announced soon,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, informed PNFS on February 28. 

 “The International Women’s Day relates to us because lots of library professionals working around the country at different locations are females and we need to celebrate the day dedicated to them in a befitting manner,” he remarked.

“The ladies are holding key positions at the NLA too. Munazza Abidi (Senior Vice President), Farheen Mahmood (Vice President), Hira Yaseen (Joint Secretary) and Mariym Muhammad Ismail (Associate Secretary) are among our office-bearers,” Muzaffar Ali Shah pointed out. 

“Our spirits at the NLA are very high as we have been recognized for doing successful events for the promotion of book and library culture. We have sustained the momentum by convening regular meetings and our top officials continue touching base on daily basis to take care of the works in pipeline,” added.

The NLA has been on a high during the last few months in particular and its successful events seems to have energized the working librarians of Pakistan, who were looking forward to such a platform to let them serve the society more effectively and let their work be known. Their participation in the last edition of the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) and their recently organized seminar 'Books are Forever' at the University of Karachi have caught the imagination of the library professionals.

KU, NLA officials appreciate Nizar Khanji, Jahangir Moghul for supporting books cause

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The US-based entrepreneur and philanthropist, Nizar Khanji, and the Charter President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD), were hailed by the officials of Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, and National Library Association (NLA), for having supported the seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18. 

The generous support from both these gentlemen helped the organizers in covering the costs of meals and books besides taking care of rentals for computer hardware. 

Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairman, DLIS at University of Karachi, expressed his gratitude to the two philanthropists for having cared to support the seminar which enabled the organizers to hold the event in an impressive manner.

Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, reckoned that the supporters like Nizar Khanji and Jahangir Moghul were vital to the cause of developing reading culture in the society which will bring about positive changes, as elaborated in the seminar.

“We are grateful to both of them for letting us stage the seminar in such an exceptional manner. As everybody witnessed with awe, all seats of the auditorium were filled with students, faculty members and professional librarians. The intensity was maintained throughout the length of the seminar and all arrangements were fantastic as evidenced by the positive feedback from the participants,” the NLA President added.

Author Asma Hassan advises youngsters to read books

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Speaking at the seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18, Asma Hassan, the author of famed book Mayar-e-Zindagi, advised the young generation to devote more time in reading general books besides their textbooks. Following is the text of her speech: 

“Our relationship with books can never be broken whether they are in conventional printed form or in the digital format. It has been observed that the young generation of today spends hours after hours every day using social platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Instagram but it finds reading just a couple of pages of a book very challenging because they consider books as boring whereas Tik Tok videos are focus of their attention.” 

“Personally I am not a critic of these activities but I only wish that social media should purely be considered as a source of entertainment so that maximum time could be utilized in doing productive work.” 

“The practice of reading non-textbooks or reference books seems on the verge of extinction. We only try to read that much which could let us pass the exam or let us secure the required marks to appear on merit list. I firmly believe that book reading is essential for mental development. It enables us to think from different angles and our thought-process improves.” 

“Now it’s the time that we should get rid of the illusion that life could be led without reading books. If we don’t engage into reading books and we don’t strengthen our relationship with books we will be rolled over in the time to come.” 

“We need to promote book reading culture for the sake of our society. We need to do it for making progress in life. The thinking of people would change and their lives will become more purposeful if they could read more books. We should mobilize all our resources to guide our youngsters in particular to let them adopt the right course for a better future for themselves.” 

“We, the writers, also have a responsibility to shoulder. We need to produce the kind of stuff which appeals to the young guns, motivates them and urges them to do better. We, through our write-ups, have to give them solutions to the many probing questions they have in their minds.” 

“I am fully convinced that when compelling content will be produced and motivational books will be published in good numbers, more and more youngsters will start reading such books and they will learn a lot to bring about improvement in their life.” 

“My request to the students of the Library & Information Science department is to read more and more books themselves to be able to serve organizations much more effectively as professional librarians in their careers.” 

“The University of Karachi is a great institution and its students are extremely fortunate to be blessed with such a proactive faculty at their department which augurs well for the future. The National Library Association (NLA) has been doing a fabulous job and they have made their presence felt in a short span of time. They appear on course of achieving higher glories. Rotary International, we all know, is a leading international voluntary service organization with its chapters serving the humanity all over the world, including Pakistan.”

“It’s real very heartening to find three wonderful entities joining hands for the promotion of book culture in the country. Joint efforts are indeed more likely to yield results as the resources are pooled and bigger events become possible. I congratulate all of you for organizing such a successful and memorable seminar. Long Live Books, Long Live Pakistan!”

Rotary renews pledge to support books

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

While emphasizing on the importance of reading, the top officials of Rotary International renewed the pledge of the leading voluntary organization of the world to continue supporting the cause of books besides concentrating on other areas of community services. 

Rotary International’s District Governor for Pakistan, Dr Aftab Imam, and Jahangir Moghul, who is the Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator of Rotary International’s Zone 1-B, addressed the during the seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by the Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18.

“It has been established that the progress made in the East and the West has been mainly possible because of their education system and their reading habits. Look towards Japan and China in the East or Europe and North America in the West they have grown phenomenally on the basis of education and books,” Dr Aftab Imam reckoned.

“If we also desire to progress then we must also pay full attention to education. We have to encourage our youngsters to read more books to gain knowledge and expertise. There should be more such activities to motivate and groom them,” he advised.

“Rotary Clubs have a history of supporting books and library related projects and our club, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan is among the front-runners in promoting such activities in Pakistan. We are alive to the situation that we need more books and more libraries in order to grow and progress,” Jahangir Moghul, the club’s Charter President, observed in his speech.

“As Rotarians our motto is Service Above Self and we pride ourselves in doing projects to serve the humanity. Many of you would have heard about Rotary. All you need is just to google the word Rotary and you will get to know a lot of interesting things. We play a proactive role in eliminating illiteracy from the society and books are the tools that help us achieve our goals,” he pointed out. 

“Let’s not forget that there are innumerable benefits of reading books. The younger generation needs to be more active in reading because this is the time where you can grow faster by acquiring more knowledge to beat the stiff competition which you encounter in different fields,” Jahangir Moghul reminded. 

“Let me urge you to enlist book reading among your top priorities. Trust me you never be disappointed or depressed by odd failures if you continue reading motivational books which given you courage and strength to continue working hard which is the key to success,” he concluded. 

The seminar was conducted by Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, while the vote of thanks was proposed by the club's Past President, Engr Asim Murtaza Khan.

Seminar highlights virtues of books

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The seminar ‘Books are forever’ which was jointly organized by the Department of Library & Information Science (DLIS) of University of Karachi, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) and National Library Association (NLA) at the University’s Faculty of Arts Auditorium on February 18 highlighted virtues of book reading. 

Every speaker unanimously agreed that books held the key to success at all levels and in all spheres of life. They shared their experiences and motivated the students to devote more time to reading books in order to succeed and flourish. 

Prof Dr Faiyaz Vaid, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, was the keynote speaker while Prof Dr Nigar Sajjad, former chairperson, Department of Islamic History, University of Karachi, delivered the Presidential address 

The other speakers were Dr Aftab Imam, District Governor, Rotary International, Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairperson, DLIS, Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, RCKD, Asma Hassan, author of Mayar-e-Zindagi,  Muhammad Ibrahim, Member, Executive Committee, NLA, and Qazi Rasheed Bhatti, an entrepreneur and social worker. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, made a few important announcements while Engr Asim Murtaza Khan, Past President, RCKD, proposed the vote of thanks. Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, RCKD, and Advisor, NLA, conducted the ceremony alongwith Hira Yaseen, Joint Secretary, NLA. 

Famous book ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ authored by Asma Hassan was presented to all the dignitaries, alongwith shields and bouquets. The registration had started at 9 am while the meeting got underway at around the designated time of 10 am and concluded at 12 30 pm. Strict discipline was maintained throughout the two and a half hours sessions and the auditorium was packed to capacity with the students of DLIS turning up in large numbers.

Rotary, NLA join hands with KU for promoting book culture

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as three organizations, Rotary International, University of Karachi and National Library Association (NLA), have joined hands for holding a seminar ‘Books are forever’ which will take place at the University’s Arts Auditorium on February 18. 

After a series of meetings between them during the past couple of weeks, the schedule was finalized on February 17, incorporating last minute changes due to sudden withdrawals of a few speakers at the eleventh hour. 

 According to the details, Dr Aftab Imam, Governor, Rotary International, and Chief Commissioner, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), will be the guest of honour while Prof Dr Faiyaz Vaid, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, will be the keynote speaker and Prof Dr Nigar Sajjad, former chairperson, Department of Islamic History, University of Karachi, will deliver the Presidential address. 

 

The registration for the seminar will start at 9 am while the meeting will be called to order at 10 am by Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, and Advisor, NLA, who will also conduct the ceremony alongwith Hira Yaseen, Joint Secretary, NLA. 

Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Kha, Chairperson, Library & Information Science department, University of Karachi, will present the welcome address while the other speakers will include Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, Prof Dr Nusrat Idrees, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi, Asma Hassan, author of Mayar-e-Zindagi, and Muhammad Ibrahim, Member, Executive Committee, NLA. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, will make a few important announcements on the occasion while Engr Asim Murtaza Khan, Past President, Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan, will propose the vote of thanks at 12.30 pm to mark the conclusion of the two and a half hours session. 

The students of all classes of the university’s Library & Information Science department are expected to attend the seminar in large numbers and they will be engaged in an interactive session of about half an hour with the panel of speakers. A good turnout of working librarians was also being anticipated by the organizers.

NLA, Delhi College explore conducting library courses

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top officials of the National Library Association (NLA) and the Delhi Anglo Arabic College Old Boys Association (DAACOBA), during their meeting on February 15, discussed the possibilities of launching library courses for the college students. 

The NLA was represented by its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, in the meeting with the DAACOBA Senior Vice President, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Honorary Secretary, Dr Qazi Muhammad Wasiq. 

The NLA President will soon be submitting the details of curriculum of certificate and diploma courses for evaluation and further action to be taken by the Executive Committee of the DAACOBA in their next quarterly meeting expected to be held next month. 

“Ideally we will desire the courses to commence from the next academic session which may start at colleges by August or September. We have done the spadework for both these courses which were greatly appreciated by our Founder Advsior, Prof Anwar Ahmad Zai,” Muzaffar Ali Shah disclosed. 

“The DAACOBA is always open to implementing ideas which empower and enable the youth of our society. The proposed library courses can indeed be of immense value to the youngsters who will stand a better chance of getting employment at the various libraries after undertaking them,” Dr Qazi Wasiq reckoned.

NLA cherish its JS on promotion

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top functionaries of the National Library Association (NLA) have warmly congratulated one of their fellow office-bearers, Hira Yaseeen, on her promotion as senior college librarian. 

Hira Yaseen, Joint Secretary, NLA, has been promoted to BPS-18 and the notification in this regard was issued by the Sindh government authorities on February 10. 

“It’s a moment to celebrate for us as one of our very active members has earned a well-deserved promotion in government service,” the NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, observed.

The NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and the Association’s Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, in separate messages, have also greeted their Joint Secretary for moving up the ladder in her professional career.

“Hira has been one of the most proactive members of the NLA since its early days. It’s really gladdening to learn about her promotion in government service which should motivate her further to accomplish higher goals,” the NLA Advisor remarked. 

“All of us at NLA feel proud at the promotion of Hira and we wish her the very best of luck in future as well,” the NLA Secretary stated.

Having done masters in Library & Information science from the University of Karachi, Hira has been working as librarian at the Government Degree Science & Commerce College located in Block 16 of Karachi’s Federal-B-Area.

NLA appreciates ICMA initiatives

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) has appreciated the initiatives of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA) towards the development of library culture. 

“It’s really gladdening to find the ICMA housing a library at every campus for facilitating its students. We are impressed by their efforts of running a neat and clean library where seating facilities are available for lots of people,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, observed after visiting the ICMA North Nazimabad campus in Karachi on February 9. 

The NLA President was accompanied by their Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, who were also impressed by the congenial environment at the library where good number of students were engaged in reading books. 

“The ICMA is known and respected for its professional work in the financial sector. It’s fascinating to watch them attaching due importance to libraries and encouraging the students to avail the facilities,” the NLA Secretary complimented. 

Upon arrival, the three-member NLA delegation was received by the ICMA Librarian, Zahid Hussain, who briefed them about the services being provided to the users. He also escorted them to different parts of the campus.

AKU initiates first solar power project at campus

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As part of its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, AKU is investing in solar arrays on its campuses in Karachi. 

Three new solar installations will cut the University’s carbon footprint by more than 365,000 kg per year, the equivalent to 1.5 million kilometers travelled in a medium sized car. Three buildings are being fitted with a 550 kW solar photovoltaic system. 

These include the Sports and Rehabilitation Centre and Utilities Building on the Stadium Road campus, as well as a smaller installation on the Utilities Building in Education City, Karachi. Once all 1021 panels at all three locations have been installed, they are expected to generate nearly 500,000 kWh of carbon neutral electricity per year.

“AKU’s first solar power project in Pakistan is a key step forward to realising our environment and climate ambitions. Using renewable, clean energy brings not only cost savings but benefits people and the planet alikem,” the AKU President, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, remarked at the inauguration of the installation at the Sports Centre. 

Over the last decade, solar power has become one of the cheapest electricity sources, particularly suitable for locations such as Pakistan with a high number of sunny days. Once installed, solar energy requires no inputs, reduces operational costs and can improve the environment for the local community by reducing noise and air pollution.

“We are proud to say that currently, AKU is the only university and only healthcare provider in Pakistan having a publicly committed net zero carbon target. Our goal is to champion good stewardship of the environment: to mitigate the effects of climate change from our activities, and support resilience in the communities we serve,” the AKU President declared.