TOBA TEK SINGH: The Raza Farooq Library has reopened in Pirmahal after six years. People love to call it a library even though the facility has no electricity connection and lacks sufficient furniture and books.

The previous PML-N government built it with a cost of Rs30 million. In 2012, then chief minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the construction work when he visited Pirmahal to address a public meeting. He committed to providing funds for the library named after late lawyer Raza Farooq Ramday, son of late attorney general Mian Farooq Ramday, and nephew of retired Justice Khalil Ramday. Late Farooq was the husband of PML-N Senator Ayesha Raza Ramday.

Mr Sharif, however, never met his commitment as staffers were not appointed and furniture and books not provided. The building remained empty for years. It was used by revenue patwaris as patwarkhana in 2013.

Finally, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government appointed librarians and made it functional this month. The appointment of staff, however, failed to make it a library. Due to non-payment of electricity bill, the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company not only cut its power connection a few years ago but also removed its transformer. Now, the company demands Rs300,000 for re-installation of the transformer and restoration of power connection. The spacious library houses a few cupboards and rakes, a few chairs and tables and only 2,000 books.

Librarian Azeem Akbar told Dawn he wrote to the Directorate of Libraries for funds the electricity connection and furniture and more books. He said he was hopeful that funds would be provided to him in a week or two. He added that 14 staff members were providing services to visitors. He said hundreds of books had also been donated to the library by local residents. Anyone can become the library member.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2018