Daily Times

Sir: Libraries are repositories of knowledge, engines for cultural development and reservoirs of historical heritage. Libraries had been established, maintained, promoted and expended by civilised nations and conscientious groups. In our country, the role of successive governments has been to abandon libraries. Fortunately, some dedicated group of Johians established the Gaj Library (later on renamed Akbar Jiskani Memorial Library) purely from their own resources and to date it is being run with the donations in cash and kind from doctors, local civil society organisations, local journalists and friends living in different cities of Sindh. The library is set up in a rented building. The management of the library committee tried to convince the MPAs and MNAs of the area to allocate a piece of land for the library. The former DCO Johi, Mr Saleem Raza Khehro, granted land for the construction of the library. The heavy rains in 2011 caused immense damage to the building; five thousand books, computer lab and innumerable magazines of English and Urdu language were destroyed. There is a threat that the building might collapse, and with the monsoon about to come, the threat has increased manifold. Though Mr. Rafique Jamali, MNA of Johi/Dadu has assured that he will get the repair work done, so far things have not moved an inch. The management committee and readers of the library appeal to the concerned authorities to get the building of the Akbar Jiskani Memorial Library constructed on an urgent basis.

GULSHER PANHWER

Johi