Promotions of college librarians notified

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA) has once again warmly congratulated the librarians, having been promoted to Grade-19 from Grade-18, whose notification was issued by the Government of Sindh on January 19. 

The top office-bearers of the NLA, Syed Khalid Mahmood (Advisor), Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah (President) and Anwar Hussain (Secretary General), through a statement later the same evening, extended their best wishes to the newly promoted librarians. 

Muhammad Tariq, Bashir Ahmed Shahani, Aijaz Shaikh, Muhammad Ali Shaikh, Ghulam Murtaza Pirzada, Munir Ahmed Memon, Manoo Mal, Abdul Malik Abbasi, Muhammad Islam Shah, Muhammad Ghulam Hussain, Abdullah Brohi, Allah Wasayo Dayo, Muhammad Mansub, Zulfiqar Ali Channa, Haji Khan Maitlo and Mahmood Sultan are the male librarians to have been promoted into BS-19. 

Bushra Roohi, Farhana Parveen, Shabana Solangi, Raeesa Arif, Sadia Sultana, Shaheen Aziz, Shazia Qadir, Badshah Zaidi, Shama Bano, Naseem Begum, Shabana Memon, Mahrukh Baloch and Rani Baloch are the female librarians whose promotion has been notified into BS-19. 

It may be recalled that the NLA, with the collaboration of the Sindh College Libraries Association (SCLA), had organized a function in the honour of the above promoted librarians during the recently held Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF).

Author Asma Hassan to speak in KU seminar

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Asma Hassan, one of the most promising young authors, who debuted with popular Urdu Book ‘Mayar-e-Zindagi’ in 2020, has been unanimously approved as a speaker in the seminar titled ‘Books are Forever’ which is being organized by the National Library Association (NLA), with the collaboration of the University of Karachi’s Library & Information Science department next month. 

The seminar’s organizing committee, which met at the university campus on January 17, also approved the keynote speaker as well as other speakers for the event which is scheduled to be held at the auditorium of the University of Karachi, which has a seating capacity for more than 400 persons. 

Besides author Asma Hassan, regarded as the voice of the young generation, the list of speakers in the seminar includes professors of Library & Informational Science, working librarians, social reformers and journalists. They will enlighten the audience by sharing their views and thoughts on the subject.

Union Councils undertake library drive

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

In accordance with the guidelines of the Government of Sindh, the Union Councils in Karachi have undertaken the arduous task of developing new libraries besides renovating the old ones which had become dormant over the years. 

Agha Sameer Khan Durrani, Administrator, Union Committees, Gulberg Town, District Central, has set the ball rolling by not only allocating a premises for library but he got it ready in a matter of just one week and all seemed set to have it ready for opening in the coming week. 

The three-member delegation of the National Library Association (NLA), comprising of its Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, confessed having been taken by surprise they visited the office of the Union Council-30 Yaseenabad, located in Block 15 of Federal-B-Area, on January 17.

“We had visited this place exactly a week ago on January 10, upon the invitation of the UC officials to discuss the idea of setting up a library in the available space. Just in a matter of one week they have got the premises whitewashed coupled with installation of new fans and tube lights. It’s incredible to say the least,” the NLA officials complimented. 

Agha Sameer Durrani informed that the furniture for the library had already been ordered and the books will be ready to be shelved within the next few days. He also agreed to the NLA suggestion of having a qualified librarian posted to do the job. 

The NLA delegation reassured its support and technical assistance to the Union Council in their endeavours to run the library, equipped with all basic facilities. They were optimistic that Union Councils in various districts of Karachi and other parts of the province will also follow the guidelines of the Government of Sindh to have more libraries. 

Meanwhile the NLA office-bearers presented a copy of famous author Asma Hassan’s Mayar-e-Zindagi to Agha Sameer Durrani, who is a passionate lover of books and libraries. Glancing through the book, he declared that the contents looked impressive and he will like to read it fully as soon as possible.

NLA hail its EC member on Grade-20 promotion

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top leadership of the National Library Association (NLA) has greeted one of their Executive Committee members, Muhammad Ibrahim, working at the High Court of Sindh, Karachi, on his recent promotion to Grade-20.

“It’s a matter of pride for the librarians’ community in general and the NLA in particular that one of our colleagues has earned a thoroughly deserved promotion in government service,” the NLA President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, remarked. 

The NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and the Association’s Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, have also extended their greetings and good wishes to the recently promoted librarian into Grade-20. 

The 56-year old Ibrahim, who has been associated with the NLA since its inception in 2017, had done Masters in Library & Information Science (MLIS), from the University of Karachi. He is credited to compiled as many as 15 books on the subject of law.

Former KDA chief passes away

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ahmed Hussain, a former Director General of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), passed away on January 10. He was 85. He has left behind three sons and a daughter to mourn his death. 

He had become the Director General of KDA following the retirement of Muhammad Naeem. Earlier he also held the post of Director General of the then Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) for a few years. 

He was laid to rest at a local graveyard in Karachi. His Namaz-e-Janaza and burial were attended by close friends and relatives. 

Meanwhile, the mother of Agha Maqsood Abbas, a former Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), who also headed the Malir Development Authority (MDA), breathed her last on January 11. 

Her Namaz-e-Janaza was offered at the Imam Bargah in Ancholi, Federal-B-Area, and later laid to rest at Wadi-e-Hussain in the presence of friends and relatives.

NLA, National College join hands for book promotion

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Government National College, one of the most revered colleges of Karachi, and the National Library Association (NLA), the vibrant body of working librarians, have decided in principle to join hands in launching a programme aimed at the promotion of book and library culture in the country. 

The College Principal, Prof Syed Uzair Ahmed Madni, who is himself a proactive educationist, besides being a seasoned broadcaster, poet and writer, during his meeting with the NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, on January 11, volunteered to host the event in three parts, whereby the students will be firstly engaged in a group discussion on Asma Hassan’s book Mayar-e-Zindagi before entering the BCQ competition on the same book and then participating in an interactive session with the author. 

“We appreciative the initiatives of the NLA in book and library promotion. We understand that Mayar-e-Zindagi is the perfect book for such an event because its various chapters are related to character building which will be helpful in guiding the students to lead a better life. Most significantly the book has been authored by Asma Hassan, one of the younger writers, which will not cause any generation gap with the college students,” Prof Uzair Madni reckoned. 

“Let National College do this pilot project. Upon its successful completion we would recommend this template to be replicated at other colleges of Karachi and the NLA can think in terms of taking it to different parts of the country,” he suggested. 

It may be recalled that a two-member delegation of NLA, comprising of its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, and Secretary, Anwar Hussain, had also called on the Principal of the Government National College (Evening) a few weeks ago in which matters relating to holding programmes jointly were initially discussed.

NLA willing to boost public libraries

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Library Association (NLA), having come of age with its continued work for the cause of the profession for the past five years, has expressed its willingness to support public libraries in the larger interest of the masses. 

“We are prepared to work with the government bodies as well as the private sector who are desirous of reviving their libraries or planning to set up new ones,” Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, observed during his meeting with the officials of the Union Council-30, Karachi District Central, on January 10. 

A three-member NLA delegation, headed by its President, and also containing Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, visited the office of the Union Council, located in Block 15 of Federal-B-Area, where a library is being planned to be established by the authorities. 

The NLA office-bearers were warmly greeted by the Union Council officials who took them to various covered spaces where a library is intended to be setup for serving the area people. 

The NLA delegation assured its support and technical assistance to the Union Council in their endeavours to build a library, equipped with all basic facilities. They expressed the hope that Union Councils in other districts of Karachi and other parts of the country will also engage into such healthy activities.

NLA mourns SBP chief librarian’s death

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The top leaders of the National Library Association (NLA) have expressed their condolence over the death of Bashir Ahmed Zia, who had served State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for a couple of decades as its chief librarian. 

According to the family sources, Bashir Zia passed away at the CMH in Kharian on January 7. His funeral is scheduled to take place at his native town Tehsil Phalia, Mandi Bahuddin, on January 8. 

Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, who worked with him at the central bank’s library for quite a few years, described his demise as a big loss for the librarians’ community of the country. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood, Advisor, NLA, recalled that the veteran chief librarian had greeted him very enthusiastically and issued him a membership card of the SBP Library right away during his official visit to the central bank’s head office in 2013. 

Anwar Hussain, Secretary, NLA, paid tribute to Bashir Zia, describing him as one of the most efficient and hard-working librarians who was also very knowledgeable and well-informed. 

Bashir Zia held the position of Additional Director & Chief Librarian at SBP since 1999, having previously worked as Assistant Director (Automation & Documentation), Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Ministry of Science & Technology, Islamabad, for 11 years. He also had brief stints as Librarian of the Institute of Blood Transfusion, Health Department, Government of Punjab, Lahore, and as Assistant Librarian at the The British Council, Lahore. 

He had done Masters in Library & Information Science in first division from the University of Punjab, Lahore, in 1986 after having graduated from the Government Degree College, Mandi Bahauddin, in 1982.

Rotary Darakhshan to contribute in promotion of library, reading culture

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD) has pledged to contribute its bit in the promotion of library and reading culture in the country as a part of initiatives aimed at improving literacy and creating more employment. 

“Engagement of youth in healthy activities is of paramount importance. We have to facilitate this segment of the society in particular in order to get the best out of them. And there can’t be a more suitable place than a library and a more impacting activity than reading books for them,” Syed Khalid Mahmood, President, RCKD, observed during his speech in the seminar on the subject of ‘Revival of Library Culture in Pakistan’ which was organized by the National Library Association (NLA) during the 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) which concluded at the Karachi Expo Centre on January 3. 

Jahangir Moghul, Charter President, RCKD, and a former Governor of Rotary International’s District 3271, added that their club has a history of supporting literary activities and they will continue doing it by different means to achieve the cherished goal of bringing about positive changes in the society.

“As Rotarians our motto is Service Above Self and we are committed to play more proactive role in segments which are of greater significance to the people in general. Urging people to read and facilitating them in letting them read feature prominently in our list of priorities,” he pointed out. 

RCKD, which has supported book launch events besides other such activities, including the one just a few weeks ago, has planned to honour eminent library and literary figures later this month for which a formal announcement is expected after their board meeting around January 10.

KIBF concludes, NLA shines

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

After creating buzz and excitement in the metropolis for the past five days on a trot, the 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) came to an end at the Karachi Expo Centre late on the evening of January 3. 

It was quite extraordinary to watch the large turnout every day and evening despite the extremely cold weather from the Karachi standards. 

Some quarters were skeptical about the success of the event because of the phenomenal rise in the positivity rate of the latest wave of COVID-19 but the bookworms appeared least bothered by the fears of pandemic and they went about their business of visiting the fair with tremendous enthusiasm. 

Since the KIBF was being held after a gap of two years, following the cancellation of the event last year due to COVID-19 related issues, there also were some concerns about people having distanced themselves from physical books but, by turning up in huge numbers, all such apprehensions remained just fiction, not facts. 

Long queues of people of all age groups, wearing face masks, as it was compulsory to get in, and the packed parking lots and the packed service roads around the Expo Centre dispelled the impression of the people having lost their love for books. 

As witnessed in the past, it was a very well attended exhibition with maintenance of all possible protocols. The people of Karachi proved the point once more that they remain passionate about education and reading.

While every stakeholder, stallholder and participant had a reason or two to celebrate the successful KIBF, the one body which stood out was the National Library Association (NLA) which not only set up their stall but managed it exceptionally well for five days to catch the imagination of library professionals and many others.

NLA seminar highlights reading benefits

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The seminar organized by the National Library Association (NLA) during the just concluded 16th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) at the Karachi Expo Centre highlighted the multiple benefits of reading books and the working librarians were urged to facilitate the readers. 

‘Revival of Library Culture in Pakistan’ was the topic of the seminar in which eminent scholars and educationists shared their thoughts and came up with suggestions to do something concrete in this direction instead of just lip servicing. 

The NLA Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, in his twin speeches on the occasion, drew the attention of the audience towards the huge turnout of bookworms on a Sunday morning at the KIBF which itself was a testimonial of people’s continued reliance on printed copies of books for enhancing knowledge by seeking accurate information instead of relying on digital platforms. 

Renowned journalist, poet and author, Mahmood Sham, who presided over the ceremony, informed the audience that, despite all challenges, there were still a large number of people, spread in different parts of the country, who were prepared to travel places for getting hold of books of their taste and choice. 

Prof Dr Farhat Hussain Khan, chairperson of the Library & Information Science department of the University of Karachi, and two of his predecessors, Prof Dr Malahat Kaleem Sherwani and Prof Dr Munira Nasreen, also enlightened the audience with their observations and suggestions. Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, President, NLA, and Anwar Hussain, Secretary, NLA, were lauded for their efforts in promoting library culture. Younis Hashmi, Information Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks after an enlightening one-hour session.

16th KIBF gets underway with a bang

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The long-awaited 16th edition of the Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) finally got underway on December 30 and it was off to a sensational start. Hours before the five-day annual was formally inaugurated in afternoon, there were long queues of school students, mostly dressed in tidy uniforms, who swarmed to access the three halls of the Karachi Expo Centre since 10 am when the gates were opened. 

The KIBF 2021 was already in motion, and in full swing, when the Sindh Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, declared it open after presiding over a largely attended inauguration ceremony in which Anwar Maqsood, the famous playwright, was the keynote speaker. 

The National Library Association (NLA) was represented in the KIBF opening ceremony by its President, Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah, Advisor, Syed Khalid Mahmood, and Secretary General, Anwar Hussain, besides a few other senior members. 

Aziz Khalid, President, Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association (PPBA), Southern Zone, in his welcome address, recalled the history of the KIBF as to how it was conceived after watching a book fair take place at New Delhi, India, in 2004. He touched upon the modest beginning of the KIBF and its evolution in the following years, incorporating the templates of success stories from book fairs at Frankfurt and London. 

Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, a former provincial senior minister, in his speech on the occasion, described the KIBF as one of the most significant events of the national calendar and he complimented the local publishers and booksellers for ensuring the availability of books at reasonable prices despite the inflation and other uncontrollable factors. 

Anwar Maqsood lived upto his huge reputation of entertaining and simultaneously enlightening the audience with his witty remarks which were generously applauded. As always, he enlivened the proceedings and charmed everyone on the occasion, including the dignitaries occupying the stage. 

Fatema Hassan, a prominent poet, didn’t mince words in stating that the book culture was here to stay despite the arrival of digital gadgets and other sources of recreation. She was of the opinion that the success of the KIBF was a testimonial of the people’s belief in books which were still doing good business. 

Lastly the chief guest, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, committed to take up the matter of slashing taxes on import of paper for the purpose of educational books to the federal government while he also agreed to take action for activating libraries in the schools and colleges, as requested by the PPBA Southern Zone Chairman. 

The vote of thanks was proposed by the KIBF Convener, Waqar Mateen Khan, in which he acknowledged the support of his team members in making the event successful. In the end awards were presented to some of the publishers and booksellers in recognition of their services to the trade.