THE Sindh government’s recent move to declare the Sayad Hashmi Reference Library as a protected heritage site is appreciable. The library, dedicated to Balochi language and literature, serves as a beacon of knowledge and a hub of research in Malir. Its survival was threatened by the proposed construction of a Malir Expressway interchange, prompting protests from civil society and political leaders who recognised its cultural significance. The library was founded by late Prof Saba Dashtyari and holds an essential place in preserving Balochi works. Moreover, it is not merely a repository of books; it also functions as an intellectual and cultural centre, offering courses on Balochi, supervising the publishing of works, and serving as a space for Balochi scholars to gather and collaborate. Beyond its immediate value to the Baloch community, the library represents a shared cultural heritage that all Pakistanis should take pride in. Its protection ensures that the country’s linguistic diversity and literary history are celebrated, not eroded by unchecked urban development.
The Sindh government has also granted heritage status to other important sites, including the Kutte ji Qabar in the Khirthar hills, the ancient Mukhtiarkar office in Naushahro Feroze, and Karachi’s Parsi Institute compound. Across Pakistan, many other sites deserve similar protection: libraries in Lyari, now mostly vanished, once served as vital educational hubs. Similarly, historical structures in cities like Lahore and Peshawar, facing encroachment and neglect, need urgent safeguarding. Pakistan’s rich history is too precious to lose to urban sprawl and ramshackle modernisation without careful consideration of what is being sacrificed. Preserving these cultural and intellectual landmarks is essential not only to maintain a link to the past but also to ensure the continuity of cultural legacy for future generations. By classifying such spaces as protected sites, we honour our past, so that the generations that follow might find in the remnants of history the echoes of their own becoming.
Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024
