LAHORE, Sept 19: The World Blind Authors Library (WBAL) which collects blind authors’ works from across the globe is faced with closure due to a lack of government support.

The library, established in 1989 at Neelibar in Krishan Nagar, with an official grant of Rs500,000, has now accumulated a debt of Rs650,000, according to its director general Rana Taab Irfani.

Mr Irfani said funds were required to pay back the loan, arrange foreign visits, translation and printing of books and pay the staff salaries.

He said he had approached the government functionaries for funds but to no avail. Some NGOs had also promised to arrange funds but never kept their promise, he added.

Mr Irfani said the library management had so far collected about 800 books by blind authors from across the world. The collection includes books by Greek writer Homar, Egyptian Dr Taha Husain, who has authored no less than 65 books, and Pakistanis Iqbal Azeem and Abdul Hamid Sarshar.

“Inspired by Homer, we set up the library. However, we are being compelled to close it down due to huge debts,” he said.