KLA’s efforts to revive public libraries get instant results

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The efforts for the revival of public libraries by the Karachi Library Association (KLA) have brought immediate success as Colonel Sher Khan Library, situated in Block 10 of Federal-B-Area, which was locked for ages, has now been reopened in a matter of just a couple of weeks. 

Accompanied by the officers of the District Municipal Corporation (DMC), Karachi Central, a delegation of the KLA, headed by its President, Farheen Mahmood, and also including its Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, had visited the premises of Colonel Sher Khan Library for the first time on August 29. 

They could not enter the library hall because its keys were unavailable and the surrounding area was in complete disarray because the facility had stayed locked for the last many years. 

Following a series of meetings between the KLA office-bearers and the government officials as well as the elected representatives during the last two weeks, ways and means were discussed at length to revive Colonel Sher Khan Library besides taking remedial actions. 

The seriousness of all stakeholders brought about immediate rewards and the library itself hosted a meeting of the stakeholders on September 12, which was nothing short of a miracle. It augurs well for the area people as they had been demanding for its restoration for quite some time. 

The KLA leadership in particular deserves praise for having taken up the issue with the concerned authorities and also following it up with them on a regular basis to achieve the goal of reviving public libraries in Karachi.