NLA President warmly greeted at Sachal Sarmast Library in Khairpur

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, was warmly greeted by the Director as well as the support staff during his recent visit to the Sachal Sarmast Library housed in Sindh’s historic city of Khairpur. 

Ghulam Sarwar Channar, serving as Director of the Sachal Sarmast Sindh Government Library working under the Directorate General of the Public Libraries Sindh, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archive Department of the Government of Sindh, personally welcomed the NLA President and they exchanged views for quite some time. 

The NLA President was appreciative of the enthusiasm of Sarwar Chanar, who had done MLIS from the University of Sindh Jamshoro in 2006 before starting his career as librarian at the HITEC Taxila Cantt later the same year. He had also worked as Junior Librarian at the National Library of Pakistan from January 2008 to October 2011.

“It was great to speak to the Director of the Sachal Sarmast Sindh Government Library, who shared the vision of our Association for work collectively to achieve our mutual objectives,” the Muzaffar Ali Shah noted after having presented a book to him on behalf of NLA.

NLA announce scholarships, cash awards

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), in its Executive Committee held in Karachi on November 12, has approved scholarships on merit-cum-need basis for the students pursuing BLIS/MLIS courses at any university besides presenting cash awards to the high-achievers in examinations.

“The objective of both the decisions is to promote and encourage the aspiring library professionals who are going to serve the nation in the future years,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, informed PNFS in a brief chat after having chaired the meeting on November 12.

“The modalities for both these awards are being worked out and the decisions will be announced publicly soon ahead of the admissions for the new batches at various universities which are scheduled to start in January 2023,” the NLA President disclosed. 

“Indeed it’s a landmark decision which is going to send positive vibes in the community of librarians and library activists all over the country. We desire to do much more for our professionals that would be immensely helpful in reviving the reading culture in our society,” he hoped. 

The NLA meeting, held at its headquarters in Karachi, was presided over by Muzaffar Ali Shah and attended by Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, Zubair Jameel and Sabeen Fatima besides others.

Renowned scholar assures support to NLA

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Famous scholar Ghazi Salahuddin, who has also been a former provincial minister, has assured his unstinted support to the National Library Association (NLA) whose three-member delegation called on him at his Karachi residence of November 12.

“It’s a matter of great satisfaction to observe the NLA having worked this hard with minimal resources during its five-year old journey. I am really impressed by the highest level of commitment shown by its leaders and advisors,” he complimented. 

The NLA delegation led by its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, with Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, being there too, apprised the former Sindh Minister about the various challenges being confronted by the Association. 

Ghazi Salahuddin, who has himself set up a library of historic and rare books at his premises, while praising the resilience of the NLA leadership, pledged to extend his fullest support in overcoming the obstacles to achieve the mutual objective of promoting library culture in the country. 

He escorted the NLA officials to his personal library where some of the important books present on the shelves were discussed. Later the NLA office-bearers presented a copy of Jumbo Karachi Guide to the former Sindh Minister who admired it.