NLA ponders over street libraries chains

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) has started pondering on establishing a chain of street libraries throughout the country and it has already shortlisted the sites which could be turned into places of learning. 

 

“We recognize the initiatives of a few individuals and organizations in relation of development street libraries in some parts of the country but we consider it just a drop in the ocean. We don’t need just one two or three street libraries but we require it in hundreds and thousands across the country to cater to the needs of the big population,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, remarked after presiding over a couple of meetings in this regard in as many days. 

 The first meeting was held at the historic D J Science College in Karachi where the waiting area in the newly constructed site on Burns Road has been proposed by the NLA by for the development of a street library in the densely populated locality. 

It was followed by another midnight meeting hosted by the Syed Sultan Ali, Member, Executive Committee, NLA, who volunteered to look into the possibilities of establishing a street library in the lawn of his corner bungalow, located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. 

Besides the NLA President, Muzaffar Ali Shah, the meeting was also attended by its Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, who appreciated the spirit of fellow member Sultan Ali, who has actively participated in the other events as well.

The high energy of the NLA top functionaries augurs well for the community of librarians in the country which didn't have the kind of leaders needed to motivate and drive them.

Railways authorities regret ghastly act

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Railways authorities have regretted the ghastly act of molesting a woman passenger who was travelling aboard the private sector Multan-Karachi Zakaraia Express whose contractor has been issued showcause notice. 

The CEO of the Pakistan Railways, Farrukh Taimur Ghilzai has reiterated that safety and security relating to travelling railway passengers would not be compromised at all as directives have been issued to contractors of private sector operating various trains to check recurrence of such disgraceful acts. It has also been decided that the credentials of all the private sector trains will be verified through concerned agencies. 

According to details, the molested woman had not reported the matter at Police Helpline Desk upon arrival at Karachi Cantonment Railway station. It was only after persuasion by DCO Karachi who, along with ladies police, visited the house of victim woman a day after the incident was reported in newspapers, on the directive of Divisional Superintendent, Kashif Rasheed Yusfani, the woman lodged a complaint to railway police. 

The DCO and ladies police had convinced the victim woman to report the matter after which railway police started raids and arrested the three nominated accused from Sumandari, Jahanian and Shorkot. 

A railway spokesman revealed that the victim woman, a resident of Orangi Town, was travelling in Multan-Karachi Zakaria Express, when one Zahid, ticket checker, offered her to travel in AC Compartment where train manager Aqib was already present. Both of them were accused of having molested the woman. 

When the train reached Karachi City Station, no one from woman’s family came to receive her as she kept waiting while sitting on a bench at the platform. A police constable on duty tried to inquire from her about her problem but she did not divulge anything. 

After sometime the railway lady police took her to police station help center and informed her sister Hina who later came to station alongwith husband and took her home. On this occasion the victim woman neither reported the incident not requested for any legal action. It was only after the incident appeared in the press, the DS Railways contacted her and requested to report the incident which she reported and got her statement

NLA officials brainstorm future strategy

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Top officials of the National Library Association (NLA) gathered to brainstorm the future strategy during their meeting held at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP), located at M R Kayani Road, Karachi, on May 25. 

Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah (President), Anwar Hussain (Secretary General) and Muhammad Amin Jamali (Member, Executive Committee) took part in the session which reviewed the various aspects of the World Book & Copyright Day event which was organized recently by the NLA at the Junagadh Lawn. 

“We noted with satisfaction the participation of more than 50 persons in our World Book Day celebration in which we set the tradition of urging our members and guests to bring along at least one gift book to be donated to deserving organizations. This initiative resulted in the collected of around 100 books on the occasion which was duly donated to the Junagadh Library & Resource Centre,” the NLA President informed PNFS in a brief conversation on May 26.

“We also took into account the non-presence of some of our members, who didn’t turn up despite timely invitations and repeated reminders. We deliberated on making our events more purposeful and insightful in future to ensure participation of larger number of librarians for their own benefit,” Muzaffar Ali Shah added. 

He further disclosed that the NLA was planning to hold a few events on larger scale in the second half of the years, the details of which were being worked out by their key office-bearers.

Dignitaries laud NLA President’s efforts

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, was lavishly praised by the dignitaries in their speeches during the World Book & Copyright Day event held at the Junagadh Lawn on May 21. 

Prof Farhat Hussain Khan, Chairperson, Library & Information Science department, University of Karachi, Syed Khalid Mahmood, Advisor, NLA, Ijaz Hamdani, President, Sindh College Librarians Association, and Aftab Farooqui, Founder, Citizen Library Liaison Association, were among the speakers in the ceremony. 

All the worthy speakers applauded the efforts of President Muzaffar Ali Shah for making the NLA one of the most efficient entities which was organizing events after events for the benefit of the librarians’ community. 

The NLA Advisor, in particular, highlighted the strenuous endeavours of the President who was braving all odds to accomplish his cherished goals. 

“Let’s salute him for his continued efforts despite facing enormous challenges at every step. His resilience needs to be complimented. He has been leading the NLA by example and he deserves to be recognized for his selflessness and awesome work ethics,” Khalid Mahmood reckoned.

NLA establishing new tradition for book promotion

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), which emerged on the horizon in 2017, is in the process of establishing a new healthy tradition for the genuine promotion of books as it encourages its members to bring books during its various events for its onward donation to the deserving institutions on the occasion. 

For its ceremony organized to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day at the Junagadh Lawn on May 21, the NLA had highlighted in the invitation card that there will no registration fee for the event but every guest must bring along a book or two for donating the same to the Junagadh Library & Resource Centre. 

The NLA members and guests responded positively and there was a collection of more than one hundred books on different subjects which was gifted to the officials of the Junagadh Library & Resource Centre who gleefully accepted the package.

Similarly instead of giving away shields or momentoes to the dignitaries and guests of honour, the NLA presented books to the distinguished visitors gracing the ceremony, who thoroughly appreciated the move of the hosts.

Advisor’s compelling address stuns librarians

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Advisor of the National Library Association (NLA), Syed Khalid Mahmood, stunned the audience with a compelling address during the ceremony organized to celebrate the World Book & Copyright Day at the Junagadh Lawn in Karachi on May 21. 

Although he has never been a library professional himself, he has earned appreciation and reverence from the librarians spread all over the country for having promoted their cause for the last many years and yet again he pleaded their case for due recognition. 

“The librarians employed at the government organizations are blessed with proper grades and facilities but those working in the private sector were not getting adequate compensation which is a pity. This is a serious matter and it demands action. Unity in the ranks of librarians will help resolve such issues,” he advised. 

“The NLA has provided you the platform. Our President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and Secretary, Anwar Hussain, have worked with missionary zeal for the last five years to keep it afloat. A few others have assisted them from time to time but let me assure you that it’s in your own interest too if you contribute your bit in making this movement more effective,” Khalid Mahmood, a renowned media personality, remarked. 

“Post-registration the NLA will have mandate to do bigger things. Therefore start extending your support by whatever means right now, if you haven’t started doing it yet. Strong NLA will make you stronger, your profession stronger. It will be for the collective benefit of all professionals,” he stressed.

DS Karachi emphasizes on improving Railways efficiency, safety

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Emphasizing the imperative need for ensuring immaculate safety aspect in train operation, the Divisional Superintendent Railways, Karachi Division, Kashif Rashed Yusufani, called upon the Divisional Officers and all other concerned personnel to contribute their bit in achieving the cherished objective of providing hazard-free service to railway passengers. 

He was speaking as chief guest at a one ‘Train Safery Operation seminar organized at the Technical Training Center on his directive. 

The seminar was attended by Divisional officers, Assistants, Train examiners, PWI, Guards, Station Masters and other relevant officials. The main objective was to acquaint them about how to take measures in advance to cope with accidents. 

The DS was appreciative of the officials and the staff members who were working efficiently despite problems of material and staff shortage.

He exhorted the officials and subordinates in charges to essential ensure carrying out now and then inspection of various railway installations and told them that timely inspections will surely reduce problems by 60-70 percent because such inspections would surely help pin point the safety related problems. 

He emphasized that no one should hide the problems, if identified, whether it related to track system, rolling stock or engine defection and the same should be forwarded to concerned officials for immediate remedial action.

“The staff must necessarily share the same with their officials as hiding the same or keeping it in abeyance, will be harmful for the railway,” he declared, adding that they will have to work together in making Pakistan Railways a profitable entity. 

His emphasis was that rules and regulations must be observed fully as only this could help the organization in making further advancements.

On the occasion Divisional Transportation Officer (DTO) Sajjad Ahmed Wagho, apprised the seminar participants about the importance of the event in detail and recalled that many lives were lost in trains accidents during the past few years besides accruing financial losses to the railway which also caused damage to the Railways credibility. 

The seminar was informed about three main reasons for accidents which were the condition of tracks, rolling stock problems and human error. Besides, natural calamities, subversion, material shortage and problems in defective signaling system were identified as other causes of accidents. 

The seminar proposed setting up of safety cell, procurement of safety materials, surprise inspections and taking immediate corrective measures of minor deficiencies as short term remedies. 

The seminar was attended, among others, by Deputy DS Shahid Hussain Sammpn, DCO Ishaq Baluch, DME-I Junaid Ahmed, DME-II Habibullah Maher, DN-I Kamran Ghauri, Assistant Operating Officer Shahid Hussain Khilji, Assistant Transportation Officer, Jahan Babar, Station Managers Karachi Cantonment, Karachi City, Keamari, Kotri and Hyderabad.