Arifwala’s historic library gets makeover
SAHIWAL: A public library established in Arifwala city about 80 years back in the British era has been renovated with Rs0.6 million, courtesy a local philanthropist and a young bureaucrat.
The idea to restore the library, presently called Allam Iqbal Library, on the School Road, was conceived by Arifwala Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Altaf, and materialised with the funds provided by a local philanthropist Chaudhry Tahir Iqbal Jutt.
The library was called Brander Library and the road it was situated on was Brander Road. It was named after a British Lady Joan Brandar; wife of an officer, George Brander, who served the Indian Civil Service from 1923 to 1947. The names of the road and the library were changed later on.
The total land of the library, established 80 years back, is five kanal marked by a boundary wall which is still intact in its original shape while it’s hexagonal building covers 17 marla. An old image shows the library building in red and cream colour surrounded by green lawns.
Replying to a question about how the initiative was taken Mr Altaf said: “While serving in Arifwala for the last nine months I came across the old building of the library in the middle of the city and it was in bad condition. I noticed the youth visiting the library for newspaper and book reading and some were seen busy studying for competitive examination. The building needed repair and so I decided to renovate it”.