FAISALABAD, Feb 20: The Tehsil Municipal Administration has decided to close down the only library in the city.

The librarian has reportedly been directed to immediately shift all the books and journals from the library to the TMA complex and vacate the building. The books would be stored in an abandoned room of the TMA complex.

The Municipal Library was set up in 1953 by the then city administration. It has thousands of books on variety of subjects. Over 200 people visit the library daily which is situated in the heart of the city. More than 1,000 people have the membership.

Sources told this correspondent that an ‘influential’ man wanted to get hold of the library premises and use it for commercial purposes.

They said that the offices of the Faisalabad Deaf Association, adjacent to the Municipal Library, would also be got vacated and the entire premises would be leased out to the ‘influential’ man on nominal rates.

When contacted, a spokesman said that it was not the responsibility of the TMA to run the library for the citizens under the new set up. The union councils were responsible for providing such facilities to the people.

“The decision to get the Municipal Library vacated is being taken in the larger interest of the citizens. Details would be made public in the near future.”

Condemning the decision, a number of students’ organizations have demanded that the Punjab governor should order the TMA high-ups to withdraw the decision. — Shamsul Islam Naz