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Since 1947
MOHAMMAD KHAN MARWAT
PAPER
INTRODUCTION
Pakistan has a grand history in respect of literary and library activities since its
very inception. Its history traced back to the oldest civilization of Taxila,Harappa
and Indus valley, which remained the seats of Buddhists with Gandahara culture
for a period of long time, the Aryan culture and Hinduism respectively. The valley
of indus played the role of centre figure in constituting the Hist ory of Pakistan.
The history of Books and libraries among the people of this area can be traced back
to Sixth century, A.D, where paper was being used in Gilgat and Kashmir and as a
result the Libraries were established at UCH, Multan, Tatta and many other places
of this region .
Before the invasion of Muhammad Bin Qasim in Sindh in 712 A.D there was very
rare concept of Books and Libraries were in existence from which only people
from the superior caste could be benefitted. The young Arab General introduced
Islamic Education in the valley of sindh. He laid down the foundation of Maktab
Madrassas attached with Mosques. After Muhammad Bin Qasim, chain of libraries
were est ablished by Mahmood Ghaznavi,Ghoori,Toghlak, Lodhi and Mughal.
Each Mughal Emperor had his own library. When Pakistan came into being in
1947, no doubt Libraries were definetly existed but the collection and building of
these libraries were in very poor condition. The following libraries were existed in
this area at the time of independence.
A part from this some personal libraries were existed in this area.
Library Education in Pakistan
Apart from the programme given in the schedule certificate programmes are also
arranged by the Pakistan Library Association in the main cities of the country.The
purpose of such programmes is to fulfil Library demands, and acquaint the in
service personal with modern technology in short time.
The subject of Library Science at Intermediate and BA level has been introduced in
Pakistan. More than 60 colleges through out Pakistan are engaged in teaching the
subject of Library Science. The provincial Government of Sindh has arranged
separate staff for this subject, While Librarian of other provinces in Pakistan are
teaching the subject on voluntarily bases.However the Government has commi tted
that separate staff will be provided for this subject.
Since its independence no scheme for the development of Libraries was devised to
develop the Libraries on modern lines. Several commission have been set up by the
Government to conduct surveys by the experts but all of them got go nothing. In
1949 Late Dr. Abdul Moid prepared a plan known as "NATIONAL PLAN FOR
LIBRARY SERVICES IN PAKISTAN" in which 3200 Libraries were
recommended on national leve l and one each for provincial head quarter, regional
district and municipal town and even mobile libraries for remote areas were also
suggested, but the Government had not taken any interest in this regard. In 1956
Mr.L.C Key has prepared report under the scheme of the colombo plan known as"
report and proposal on the establishment and improvement of Library service in
Pakistan" in this proposal some 36 Libraries were recommended as one National
Library two provincial and one for each university 20 for colleges and one special
Library was proposed, but the Government has thrown the report in the cold
storage.In 1959 a special scheme was organised by the Govt: of Pakistan to
establish public library system, with the justification that each province, division,
district, tehsil and union c ouncil will be provided with a library. To some extent
the scheme has been implemented. In 1980 on the advice of Ex president of
Pakistan General Muhammad Ziaul Haq technical working group was constituted
by the ministry of Education under the chairmanship of Dr. Anis Khurshid with the
member of each province and Federal area. The group visited remote and
unapproachable areas of the country, cond ucted interviews/survey programmes
and prepared a comprehensive report. It was suggested that 8,000 libraries will be
established in the six five year plan, but the scheme has not been implemented.
Although the Govt: has established National Library Islamabad and Provincial
Library in each Provincial Headquarter.
In the eight decade of this century, the Government of Pakistan has taken a good
step for the development of Libraries in PAKISTAN, and established PUNJAB
LIBRARY FOUNDATION in 1985 in Lahore.The foundation provides books and
financial assistance to the Punjab main Libraries. It closely work with Pakistan
Library Association in connection of professional growth of activities in the
country.The fo undation has also started its mobile Library services in Lahore the
big city of Punjab.It is hoped that such like foundations will be established in other
provinces of Pakistan.
Public Libraries are people oriented Libraries and work for the betterment of the
people to educate the people and to provide information to masses, but it should be
established under the clear mandate of law to ensure nation wide provision of
public library service. IFLA has set up three principles for Public Library system.
In Pakistan no attention has been given toward the constitution of Public Library
Legislation. Few efforts have been made by the individual to plan the public
library system but all of them were dumped in the cold storage with the
Government.The Pakistan Library Association has now prepared draft for the first
time for Public Library Act in which Directorate for Public Library in each
Province is suggested with a professionally qualified and competent Director of
Libraries, provincial Library Board is recommended to be consisted of 16
members.
1. District Library Council with the power to establish branch libraries in the
towns.
2. City Library councils for each city with a population of 300000 and above.
3. Municipal Library council for each city with a population not less then
50,000.
4. Tehsil Library council for such tehsil town where no local body exist in the
tehsil town.
5. Town Library council each for such cities or town with a population
between 10000 to 50000.
In this Act it is suggested that every local authority shall allocate 2% of there
budget for the purpose of providing free public library services.But it will take
time in implementation.
At present there are approximately 182 public libraries in Pakistan which are
working without any system and planning few librariesare working under the Asia
Foundation have also been introduced.
University:
No uniform rules are formulated for university librarian in
Pakistan.university Grant Commission formulate rules for librarian with the
justification of,
1. Chief Librarian BPS.19
2. Deputy Librarian BPS.18
3. Assistant Librarian BPS.17
4. Librarian BPS.16
College:
1. Librarian Mlisc BPS.17
2. Librarian DLIS BPS.16
Some posts of Librarian have been upgraded to BPS.18 on the bases of seniority in
Post Graduate colleges in Pakistan.
One of the most significant aspects of current century has been the emergence of a
number of new and specialized subjects. Of these subjects ,information or
information explosion is of rather recent origin and in gaining the importance day
by day. Information has attained the importance of being an essential part of
national resources. It is not only a national resource vital for scientific and
economic progress, but also the medium of social communication. It has become to
be known as "a new wealth of nations".
1. General universities 13
2. Engineering universities 4
3. Agricultural 3
4. Health Science 1
5. Management science 1
Bibliography is said to be the structure of the book world of any nation .The
importance of any nation can be gauged from its publication and its bibliographical
activities.After independence the first bibliography was compiled by Mr.
A.R.Ghani Pakistan a select bibliography"In 1950 Pakistan Bibliographical
Working Group was formed in Pakistan sponsored by UNESCO.The group has
published its firs t bibliography" Guide to work of reference in Pakistan" In the
same year the group has published another bibliography" A Guide to Periodical
and Newspaper published in Pakistan"The great achievement of this group is
compilation of Retrospective National Bibliography of Pakistan"
PLA has branch councils at each provincial capital and one federal chapter in
Islamabad. Constitutional changes are considered in the General Body meeting
which is held annually in conjunction with the PLA annual conference.
Since its inception it had made considerable contribution in promoting the cause of
librarianship in Pakistan.The association publishing quarterly journal and
Bimonthly NEWSLETTER regularly.The association plays a strong role in library
world, it started income generating activities such as the establishment of Five
computer centre and again member of IFLA. The association has developed softwa
re for Library automation in Pakistan both english and urdu version known as
LIBRARY AUTOMATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME(LAMP) and
CD ROM databases on SERNET some translated into urdu and sold all over the
world.. The LAMP software is using in more than 70 libraries in Pakistan an about
67 libraries in the world.More than 400 Librarian have been trained on this
package, and the association is re sponsible for its services and upgradation.
In general the projects supports activities which leads to the improvement of the
libraries and information services in the country.
Achievements of NLDP
RECOMMENDATIONS
To have a best library environment the following points should be taken into
consideration very seriously: