KARACHI, Nov 17: The Sindh Education Department plans to procure books worth Rs 23 million for libraries in schools and colleges. Dr Hamida Khuhro, Sindh education and literacy minister, has directed the officials of her department to procure books for libraries in schools and colleges throughout the province within next three months.

Hamida Khuhro observed that a decline in reading habits among the younger generation has taken place in recent years because of inattention given to libraries at school and college level.

She said that due to escalating prices of quality books in the country, not many people in the lower income groups could afford to purchase new books. "The only way for them is to provide quality books through libraries right in their schools and colleges," she remarked.

She issued these directives in a meeting with Provincial Education Manager Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh here held on Friday.

Dr Khuhro said despite tremendous advancement in electronic media and satellite communications, the importance of printed word has not only remained intact, but in fact has increased by leaps and bounds.

She said significance of books is evident form the ever-increasing demand of books in the most advanced societies of the world, where millions of books are published and purchased despite availability of hundreds of television channels.

Dr Khuhro said our youth would have to revert back to books and inculcate reading habits, if they want respectful existence, individually as well as collectively in this competitive world.

The minister directed that that the plan should be put into operation forthwith and the entire process be completed in most transparent manner within three months so that libraries with added books in schools and colleges should be available to students by March 2007.—PPI