The Rawalpindi Municipal Library, a 145-year-old public space, in the garrison city got a new look as well as a new name after its refurbishment.

Its name has been changed to ‘Allama Iqbal Library’. Spread over three kanal on Murree Road adjacent to Liaquat Bagh, the library has a comfortable environment, air-conditioning and heating system, more books as well as the internet.

Though its building was reconstructed in 2018 under a World Bank loan, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) spent Rs25 million for the refurbishment of its interior.

The former PML-N Punjab government from 2013-2018 secured a loan worth $150 million from the World Bank for improving public infrastructure in five large cities of the province- Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala.

The provincial government provided money to these cities as a grant-in-aid whereas the loan is being returned by the Punjab government.

The RMC received its share of the loan, Rs250 million, in early 2018 and then Rawalpindi mayor Sardar Naseem decided to construct the community hall and improve the infrastructure of the Municipal Public Library, Pirwadhai General Bus Stand, and the city’s slaughterhouse.

The Rawalpindi Municipal Library was established in 1873 in two small rooms with 1000 books and 25 members. The number of members of the library increased to 8,000, but only 200 members are active. The old building, which was reconstructed in 2018, was constructed in 1980. Former military ruler General Ziaul Haq gave Rs1 million to then Rawalpindi mayor Ghulam Hussain to upgrade the library.

In 2001 devastating flood in Leh Nullah destroyed the library and then District Nazim Raja Tariq Mehboob Kiani managed to get funds from different government and private organisations to make the library functional. In 2024, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha initiated the project to improve the interior of the library and provide better facilities to the students in the library. He said that further improvement would be made in the library in light of the suggestions given by the students in the coming days. He said that an average of 150 people visit the library every day. “The membership fee of the library has been kept very low Rs250 while the renewal fee will be Rs50 once in a year. Apart from this, six computers, students’ lockers and kids’ room have also been provided there,” he said.

He said that free tea would also be given to the students coming to the library as a goodwill gesture to promote the book-reading culture. The library has more than 50,000 books, out of which about 800 books are for competitive exams, he said.

He said that a separate place had been allocated for the male and female students participating in competitive exams so that there was no disruption in their studies. Likewise, separate spaces should be allocated for people to read newspapers and magazines.

To manage the affairs of the library, he said that the nine-member committee would be notified soon. He said that the committee would manage the services of the library and funds for the free services to be provided by the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2024