Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The IESCO has disconnected the electricity supply to the Old Municipal Library and confiscated the transformer on account of its being a defaulter in the payment of outstanding electricity dues worth Rs 150,000 and plunging over 8000 registered members of the library in a whirlpool of mental agony and distress.

The disconnection of the electricity supply has turned the library into a haunted house with a thinning out presence of readers.

If the present state of affairs is allowed to prevail for a few more days, the library would make a mockery of the readers with its doors shut to them.

The electricity supply of the Municipal library operating at Liaqat Bagh on Murree Road under the Municipal Education Branch of the Town Municipal Administration (TMA) Rawal Town was cut off by WAPDA before Eidul Fitr.

WAPDA said that the electricity bills amounting to Rs 1.50000 were outstanding against the library since long and several times notices were sent to the library management for payment of these bills but no positive response was given by them.

Negating the version on the suspension of the electricity supply for over two weeks and the outstanding dues of Rs 150000, library sources said that the supply had been disconnected only a week before and the reason behind the disconnection of the supply was that the transformer had been burnt.

WAPDA was informed about the burnt transformer matter and they are demanding the cost of a new transformer but they have not sent a demand notice so far. On the other hand there is not a single penny left in the budget of the library as the new budget will be released in September.

Mujahid Hamid Baghdadi, a member of the library told Daily Times that he was spending his retirement life and was a member of the library since long being fond of reading books. The electricity supply was disconnected in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Whenever the library administration was asked about the issue, they did not like to talk about the matter and turned their faces away.

Due to a dispute between the library management and WAPDA over the non payment of bills, the readers are being affected adversely. The library in charge, Shahbaz, has never been seen in the library. The other staff also come here at their own sweet choice. The washrooms of the library have not even be washed.

Over 8000 persons including ex service men, doctors, lawyers and students are registered members of this library but they stand deprived of the facilities and guidance at the place of learning and knowledge.