RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) is going to revive a street library along Rialto Bridge on Murree Road as Rawal Forest Library.

After theft of books from the shelves of the street library in Miyawaki forest , the RDA had temporarily closed the library in 2023.

In 2021, the civic authority had established the street library, first of its kind in Rawalpindi city, with the help of a social welfare organisation with seatingarrangements for the visitors.

The visitors can sit on the benches outside the Miyawaki urban forest having 8,000 plants of 52 different species and enjoy reading at the lush green patch recently developed by the civic authority.

According to the RDA official, the purpose of establishing the street library was to encourage book readingand provide the community members an opportunity to meet, connect and socialise, besides enlivening and activating public spaces.

“The commuters and people passing by are welcome to stop and browse an ever-changing selection of books including history textbooks, biographies, travel guides, and poetry,” he said

Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Awais Manzoor Tarar met some local poets and writers. The Deputy Director Finance RDA, Junaid Taj Bhatti was also present in the meeting.

The meeting’s main agenda was to focus on the voluntary contributions of local poets and writers to support the functioning of the newly constructed Rawal Forest Library, located on Murree Road, Rawalpindi.

During the meeting, Awais Manzoor Tarar and Junaid Taj Bhatti shared the exciting news that the renovation and decoration of the library are in the final stages, with plans for its inauguration in the coming days. Both officials emphasized their desire for the local literary community to take full advantage of this new facility.

They encouraged the poets and writers to organise weekly literary sessions at the library, offering all necessary support including furniture and a mini sound system.

They said that we envision Rawal Forest Library as not just a library, but a cultural and literary hub. We hope it will become a space where people can engage with literature and culture on a regular basis.

They said that if we receive positive feedback, we are determined to establish similar open-air libraries in parks throughout the city.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2025