KARACHI, Jan 4: Prof Dr Anis Khursheed, a former chairman of the Department of Library and Information Sciences, University of Karachi, died here on Friday. He was 84.

Popularly known as the Father of the Modern Librarianship of Pakistan, the veteran library science expert was born in Kamti, Central Province, India, in 1924 and got his early education there. In his early life, he was quite active in the progressive writers’ movement.

He was an Urdu short story writer and contributed a lot to the progressive movement in the companionship of a known literary figure, broadcaster and music expert, Shahid Ahmed Dehlavi.

After migrating to Pakistan, he joined the University of Karachi and made remarkable contribution to strengthening a relatively new discipline of library science in Pakistan. After doing his diploma in library science, he went to Rutgers University on a Fulbright scholarship for his master’s and then finally did his PhD from Pittsburgh University in 1969.

On his return to Pakistan, Dr Khursheed developed and strengthened the information system as an integral part of library science education and with the help of locally-developed software established the country’s first computer lab to train students in cataloging.

He remained chairman of the Department of Library and Information Science from 1962 to 1986. As chairman, he developed a standard syllabus of library and information science and revised it from time to time to bring it on a par with the requirements of a modern library.

He was one of the founders of the Pakistan Library Association and was elected its general secretary.

As convener of the technical working group established by the government in 1983, he conducted a survey of the country’s libraries and proposed a comprehensive report for the improvement of the situation.

He contributed more than 175 research articles, which appeared in prestigious research journals at home and abroad. His PhD thesis was later published by the Pittsburgh University. The most prominent contribution made by him was the bibliography of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, published in two volumes by the Quaid-i-Azam University. His two books on cataloguing are taught as textbooks in Pakistani universities.

In recognition of his dedicated services for Pakistan library education and librarianship, he was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance in 1994.

A condolence meeting will be held on Jan 7 at 11am in the Arts auditorium of Karachi University.