LIBRARIES are repositories of knowledge, engines for culture development and reservoirs of historical heritages. Libraries had been established, maintained, promoted and expended by civilised nations and conscious groups. The government is a major force in establishing and contributing to the thriving of networks of libraries. The role of successive governments in Pakistan has remained minimal in this regard. Like abdicating their role in public-service sectors, libraries in most regions of Sindh have been left to crumble and fade.

Although Johi taluka is perhaps the most backward in terms of public infrastructure and public-sector service in the entire province, fortunately some educated groups of Johians established Gaj Library with their own resources. It is being run with donations from doctors, local civil society organisations, local journalists and friends living in different cities of Sindh.

The Akbar Jiskani Memorial Library is named after the unnatural death of Akbar Jiskani, a star in children’s literature of Sindh. Since its establishment in 1999, the library has been facing many challenges. The major one was bearing the exorbitant monthly rent which was hard to meet from eager private donations. In the meanwhile, the management committee of the library tried its influence but could not get a small patch of land from our elected representatives for the construction of the library building.

The reason was not the unavailability of government plots, there were unprecedented encroachments on government land but nobody was ready to sanction a small piece for the library. But youths and educated people of Johi will remain thankful to Saleem Raza Khehro, former DCO, who after receiving a few mobile phone text messages by the library management committee and readers reached the spot and granted a huge prime plot with a building to the library.

But the 2011 heavy rains caused irreparable damage to the library building. At present the building, with huge cracks and 5,000 books, computer lab, precious record of 20 leading English, Urdu and Sindhi newspapers and magazines since 1999 and a large number of readers, is under serious danger and may collapse any time. At the arrival of the monsoon, this threat has became even graver. Rafique Jamali, MNA from the Johi/Dadu constituency, has given an assurance that a new building has been approved and former DC Dr Niaz Abasi has also shown keen interest about reconstruction of the building, but recently we were told that the project was not approved by a certain committee.

The management committee and library readers appeal to all concerned to get the building of the Akbar Jiskani Memorial Library reconstructed on an emergency basis. Oil and gas exploration company BHP Billiton, which is contributing to social service, including infrastructure development in its concession area and has also supported the library through a local NGO, can contribute in this regard.

GULSHER PANHWERJohi