Sir: I left home and called a relative to provide assistance regarding the location of Benazir Bhutto Library. On reaching there I was surprised that it was virtually empty. Why is the Library and reading culture not encouraged in Pakistan? In some countries libraries are one of the most fun places to hang out and interact with versatile viewpoints. Here these education sanctuaries are near ruin due to low maintenance and the illiterate Pakistani nation considers reading a burden instead of a refreshing entertainment. The only people I encountered at this library were the staff members professing an unfriendly demeanour. They held newspapers in their hands and when I asked for a Sindhi newspaper I was scoffed off. Most importantly, the noise and the violent rush of traffic in the vicinity were hardly soothing to the senses. Though the notices on the door state that the library is a non-smoking area, it represented a chimney of smoke. Some wise man famously stated that if you wanted to kill a nation, destroy their education. It holds so true for Pakistan where people have no respect for books, literature, the worthy authors and their wisdom of words. The condition of the libraries in this country speaks for the mentality of the people of Pakistan. We complain about the non-progress in Pakistan. Are the people too not responsible for this deplorable plight? A nation that does not respect books and the sacred culture of libraries, what are the chances of a bright future for a culture ingrained in an uneducated cradle of illiteracy that is opposed to reading? BHAGWAN BHATTIHyderabad