NLA assured veteran librarians’ support

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

One of the most respected senior librarians of the country, Khurshid Alam, while hailing the various initiatives of the National Library Association (NLA), has assured them support from the side of former library professionals. 

“As a veteran librarian myself, it gladdens my heart immensely whenever I come to know about the efforts being made for the cause of the profession. Yes I have learnt about the sustained attempts being made by the NLA leadership which augurs well for the future of the librarianship,” he remarked during his meeting with the NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, in Karachi on July 28. 

Khurshid Alam, who has had an illustrious career as a librarian during which he served marquee institutions like the British Council, the University of Karachi and the Ziauddin University, has now been living in Canada’s city of Milton. He has flown back to Canada on July 29.

“I wish the NLA the very best of luck in their future endeavours. I am very happy to find their office-bearers displaying so much energy and enthusiasm in carrying out projects after projects on a regular basis which is really a commendable job,” he reckoned.

NLA leaders compliment SIUT Library

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top functionaries of the National Library Association (NLA) undertook an official visit of the library at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) in Karachi. 

The two-member delegation of the NLA comprised of its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and the Secretary General, Anwar Hussain. They were received by the SIUT Librarian, Arif Iqbal, who escorted them to the various sections of the library. 

“The visit to SIUT was planned as a part of our policy of engaging the working librarians and encouraging them to perform even better with improved coordination and networking with fellow professionals, besides discussing other matters of mutual interest ” the NLA President remarked on the occasion. 

The NLA officials praised the library setup at the SIUT, which they thought, was improving by the day. They complimented the librarian for doing a fabulous job.

NLA President returns with happy Khuzdar memories

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The heavy rains all around didn’t dampen the spirits of the President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, who has returned to Karachi after having taken a week-long tour of Balochistan’s city of Khuzdar. 

In a brief chat with PNFS, he expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of his stay in Khuzdar as he was able to visit libraries where he was warmly received and the mission of NLA was explained to the working librarians who were receptive to the idea of having frequent exchanges for learning and serving their communities more effectively. 

The NLA President carried out a detailed visit of the Central Library at the Balochistan University of Engineering and University (BUET) in Khuzadar besides undertaking a tour of the Allama Muhammad Umar Dinpuri Central Digital Library located in the same city. 

Muzaffar Ali Shah revealed having been extended warm hospitality at both the institutions whose top officials and support staff were committed and vigilant to meet the challenges with smile on their faces. 

As a token of goodwill and in line with the NLA’s policy of spreading book and library culture in the country, he presented them copies of Mayar-e-Zindagi, Jumbo Publishing’s premium book authored by Asma Hassan, a highly promising Lahore-based motivational writer.

NLA hails book-loving bureaucrat

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 

The National Library Association (NLA) has hailed the services of senior civil servant, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, who has recently been posted as the Federal Secretary of Housing and Works to the Government of Pakistan. A Grade-22 officer, he belongs to the District Management Group (DBG) of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, in a brief statement issued on July 18, recalled the services of Iftikhar Shallwani towards the promotion of library culture during his tenure as the Commissioner of Karachi. 

“He proved himself a book-loving person with his initiatives and his decision to develop and open a street library at the centrally located Hotel Metropole deserves to be highlighted time and again. He had looked eager to facilitate in having more street libraries in Karachi,” the NLA President remarked. 

“Alongwith a few of my NLA colleagues, I was also invited in the inauguration ceremony of the street library at the Hotel Metropole where we had the opportunity of exchanging views with the then Commissioner about the needs to spread library culture in the society,” Muzaffar Ali Shah disclosed. 

“We would like to take a delegation of NLA office-bearers to Islamabad in near future for a session with Iftikhar Shallwani, now a Federal Secretary, to seek his blessings and support in accomplishing our mutual goals of promoting library culture,” he concluded.

NLA President off to Khuzdar in rainy spell

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, has left Karachi for Khuzdar, a city located in the neighbouring province of Balochistan, for a five-day visit. Opting to go ahead with his travel plan in the midst of a rainy spell, he could be seen leaving his house with an umbrella in his hands. 

It’s going to be Muzaffar Ali Shah’s second tour to Balochistan in quick succession. Earlier in the month he had undertaken a trip to the capital city of Quetta for five days. Like the previous one, the primary purpose of his visit to Khuzdar would be to carry out assignments of his employers (State Bank of Pakistan) while he would be engaged in the library related matters after the office hours. 

The NLA President had interacted with quite a few librarians during his recent visit to Quetta and it’s being expected that he would be able to meet the library professionals of Khuzdar during his ongoing tour, despite his professional commitments and the forecast of heavy rains in the next few days.

NLA targets bigger events in new fiscal year

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Library Association (NLA) is being convened later this month in Karachi to finalize the plans for the fiscal year 2022-23, having commenced from July 1. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, informed PNFS on July 10 that they have chalked out various programmes for the next one year whose details will be presented to the committee for deliberation and approval. 

“Our Executive Committee comprises of eminent working librarians as well as a few devoted library activists with proven track record in their respective fields. Therefore we have a wonderful mix of wise heads, bringing to the table their diversified expertise with the common objective of developing library culture in the society,” the NLA President observed. 

“We are committed to bring about a meaningful change in the life of the librarians. Since founding the NLA in 2017, we have been meeting the challenge at the strength of our determination and steadfastness. We are delighted to have gained momentum over the past one year as we successfully organized more events than before,” Muzaffar Ali Shah stated. 

“Now we are eager to build on the success of the past one year and we are looking forward to hold bigger programmes for the librarians’ community all over the country,” he added.

NLA President greets Pishin activist

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), in accordance with its mandate, has been reaching out the library professionals as well as the library activists in every nook and corner of the country. 

The NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, held a meeting Abdul Nabi, an enthusiastic social worker and bookworm from Pishin, during his recent visit to Balochistan.

“Abdul Nabi, having founded an NGO by the name of Targheeb-e-Mutalah Kutub in the city of Pishin, came over to meet me at the hotel in Quetta where I was staying. He informed me about the initiatives of his organization which included developing shelf libraries at various government offices,” the NLA President revealed in a media release issued on July 9. 

“I was thoroughly impressed to learn about his plans. His enthusiasm for promoting the library culture was also commendable. On behalf of the NLA, I assured him our best possible support to his organization for achieving our mutual goals,” Muzaffar Ali Shah narrated.

“It’s really heartening to know that people living in smaller cities with modest resources are no less keen in playing their role in nation-building activities. The size of their city or town may be small but they don’t lack in talent and they wish to prove it with their deeds,” he added. '

Pishin city is the capital of the Pishin District of Balochistan, which connects Quetta, the provincial capital. It was separated from the Quetta District in 1975 while it was split off to form the new district of Killa Abdullah in 1994. The population of the Pishin District is estimated to be less than half a million while the crops in the area are wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, grapes, apples, apricots, and peaches which are grown in the valleys.

NLA President praises Quetta’s Quaid-e-Azam Library

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, has praised the enthusiasm and passion of the librarians and the support staff working at the Quaid-e-Azam Library in Quetta.

“It’s really impressive to find how passionately the librarians are performing their duties there despite all the constraints and the ground realities. Their commitment to the profession is exemplary,” the NLA complimented after having visited the library during his recent tour of the Balochistan capital. 

“Upon my arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the librarian, Muhammad Farooq. Cataloguer, Muhammad Imran, and the reference librarian, Muzaffar Hussain, were also present on the occasion. They escorted me to the different sections of the library and briefed me about their working,” Muzaffar Ali Shah disclosed. 

“Pursuing the NLA policy of presenting books as souvenirs, I presented them a few publications which they accepted with pleasure and appreciated our efforts for the promotion of books and library culture in our country,” he added. 

The NLA President shared with them the future plans of the Association which included networking the professional librarians all over the country for mutual benefit as well as for serving the library users more effectively.

NLA condoles Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwar’s death

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) has condoled the sad demise of the highly venerated scholar and library scientist, Prof Dr Mumtaz Ali Anwar, who breathed his last in Lahore on July 7. He was buried at the Society Graveyard later the same evening while the Rasm-e-Qul was held the following day at his Abdalian Housing Society residence. 

“On behalf of the NLA, I offer heartfelt condolence to the family of the late Professor Saheb. He was a wonderful person besides being an outstanding Library & Information Sciences scholar, teacher and researcher,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, observed in a media release issued on July 8.

“All of us at the NLA are grieved to learn about his death. He had immortalized himself by founding the Department of Library and Information Sciences at the University of the Punjab, which has produced innumerable library scientists over the years,” the NLA President recognized. 

“Prof Dr Mumtaz Ali Anwar was credited to have mentored a number of outstanding library professionals in his lifetime. He will live eternally in the hearts of the librarian community,” Muzaffar Ali Shah added. 

Meanwhile the NLA has decided to hold a reference meeting to pay homage to Prof Dr Mumtaz Ali Anwar soon after Eid-ul-Azha holidays.

NLA President visiting Quetta

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, has proceeded to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, for a week-long visit. He flew into Quetta from Karachi on July 3. 

Although the primary purpose of his visit would be to take care of assignments of his employers, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), he would be sparing some time to carry out the library related matters which remain very dear to his heart.

“Outside the working hours, I will be interacting with the librarians there to learn firsthand about their problems. We are keen to resolve the library-related issues all over the country from the platform of our national body,” the NLA President remarked.

“I will like to go around some of the public libraries there besides undertaking visits of the universities and institutes of higher studies. We have quite a few active librarians in the province of Balochistan and we would like to spread the message of NLA to them,” he added. 

It may be recalled that Muzaffar Ali Shah, with the collaboration of Anwar Hussain and a few other like-minded librarians, had founded the NLA in 2017 which has come of age, having made its presence felt in a big way during the last couple of years.

NLA officials appreciate digital initiatives

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A delegation of the National Library Association (NLA), upon the invitation from the Tehreek-e-Qaumi Zuban, a social welfare organization, visited their newly established educational institute, housed in Karachi’s Hyderabad Colony where they plan to offer digital courses to the masses at negligible costs, on July 2. 

“As the basic idea is to serve and empower the masses we will not be charging any monthly or tuition fee from those willing to avail our facility. They will only be needed to pay a token registration fee and they will be entitled to use all the facilities at the institute,” the founder of the organization, Nasir Shah, informed the NLA officials. 

“We are also desirous of setting up research facilities and for this purpose we are in the process of developing a digital library at our premises where printed books will also be shelved for reference,” he added.

“Since we are proactively engaged in the promotion of our national language, the medium of communication at our institute will remain Urdu which will certainly make it easier for the students to learn and gain knowledge of IT-related subjects,” Nasir Shah reckoned. 

The NLA delegation, comprising of Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah (President), Syed Khalid Mahmood (Advisor) and Anwar Hussain (Secretary General), appreciated the noble cause and agreed in principle to support the library project at their centrally located premises.

NLA honours intellectuals

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) honoured a couple of eminent intellectuals, Ghazi Salahuddin and Dr Syed Muhammad Iqbal Shah, in a graceful ceremony in Karachi on July 2. Both the learned gentlemen assured their support to the NLA in developing library culture in the country. 

Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, in his welcome address, paid glowing tribute to Ghazi Salahuddin and Dr Iqbal Shah for their services to the community and expressed the hope that they will continue to lead by example. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood, Advisor, NLA, recalled the able works of Ghazi Salahuddin, now heading Digital Media Association of Pakistan, when he served as Advisor on Information to the Sindh Chief Minister in the early 1990s while his newspaper columns and television interviews earned him fame and recognition.

Sultan Ali, Member, Member, Executive Committee, NLA, praised Dr the other honoured guest, Syed Muhammad Iqbal Shah, who is a famous poet and writer besides being a senior professor at Liaquat University of Health Sciences, Jamshoro. 

The NLA office-bearers presented copies of young and promising author Asma Hassan’s motivational book ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ to the distinguished guests on the occasion, including Syed Imran Ali Suharwardy of CNN Pakistan and Jahanzeb Iqbal of Starcom Advertising.