KHAR: The only public library in Bajaur tribal district has been closed for 11 years.

Set up in 1999 a kilometer away from Khar, the district headquarters, the library was unofficially closed in the middle of 2007 due to militant threats.

After launching an operation against militants, the security forces had taken control of the library’s building and the adjoining Bajaur Press Club in August 2008 before establishing a base there.

DC announced its reopening last month after forces vacated its building

They vacated both the buildings on May 4 this year prompting deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud to announce the library’s immediate reopening.

However, the library has yet to become functional.

The official documents show that land for the library was donated by Nawabzada Mohammad Dawood Khan, the elder son of former Nawab of Khar Abdul Subhan Khan (late), while the building was put up with the financial support of several elders and well-off residents.

The table, chairs, books and other things at the library were purchased from the donations made by the residents, while the administration hired a librarian, whose salary was paid from its funds.

Besides books on a wide range of topics, the library also had newspapers and magazines to benefit residents, especially youths.

Aminul Haq of Pashat area in Salarzai tehsil said in its early days, the library used to attract few people but the number swelled so much afterward that it was often jam-packed with readers.

An official of Levies Force deployed in the library told Dawn that the premises had precious books and other things in large numbers before it was formally closed more than a decade ago.

He said the library literally had nothing at the moment.

Shahid Ali Khan of the Bajaur Thinkers Association said the library’s closure had adversely affected youths, especially students, the most.

He said his association had advocated the library’s reopening for years and raised the issue with all the relevant officials.

“I launched a campaign to collect books for the library,” he said, adding that more than 4,000 books have so for been collected, while scores will follow.

Mr Shahid Ali said the reopening of the library was direly needed to promote the habit of reading among people, especially youths, especially when love for books among them is declining.

An official of the district administration ruled out the possibility of the library’s reopening in near future.

“The library’s building has been renovated but it’s difficult for the administration to make it functional immediately. I’m not even sure if it will reopen in the next three months,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2019