KURRAM: The book lovers and members of civil society held a protest here on Monday against what they called the plan of authorities to convert the sole public library in Parachinar into office and residence of the additional assistant commissioner.

Books and other reading materials have been shifted from the library to unknown location in the town. The authorities have already started construction activities for converting the building into office and residence of AAC.

However, officials of communication and works and other relevant departments showed ignorance about the plan of conversion of the library into other purposes. They also refused to comment when asked about the whereabouts of the thousands of books, stationary and other records.

An official in the office of deputy commissioner, when contacted, said that the building was being converted into the office and residence of ADC owing to non-availability of a suitable space for the purpose in the town.

The then governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lt Gen Fazal-i-Haq had inaugurated the library in 1982. Later on, Pak Army renovated the building, provided new books to it and set up computer lab in it in 2007.

The protesters held a walk from the library to Parachinar Press Club and demanded of the government to abandon the plan.

They showed resentment over conversion of the sole public library into the residence of a bureaucrat.

Talking to journalists on the occasion, Pakistan Youth Movement leader Mir Afzal said that instead of upgrading the existing facility and establishing more libraries in the district, the administration was depriving students and book lovers of the facility.

He said that Directorate of Archives and Libraries had announced digitisation of the library. He said that move to court to protect the library if the plan was not abandoned.

The protesters said that their protest would continue till reversal of the government’s decision.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2021