TOBA TEK SINGH: A first-of-its-kind e-library has started functioning here adjacent to the gymnasium in the sports stadium compound on Jhang Road.

It was established by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and the provincial youth affairs, sports, archaeology and tourism department as a part of a project under which similar e-libraries were established in 19 other districts of Punjab.

In-charge Muhammad Rizwan told Dawn that the e-library comprised an auditorium with seating capacity for 40 people, multimedia facility, e-Rozgar room with computers, e-learning facility, digital library access room, tablets and free Wi-Fi. He added that high quality hard copies of 3,000 books, documentaries and magazines had also been provided here with access to the central digital library resources.

Rizwan said the library offered free access to anyone without a membership fee and soon after the recruitment of more staff an evening shift will also be started.

He stated that the centralised digital library established and hosted at PITB data centre also provided access to users of this library of more than 50,000 e-books, e-theses, documentaries, videos, audios, local and international e-newspapers, e-magazines and journals, text and reference books and data sets.

SUMMONED: Kamalia civil judge Mehr Muhammad Abid issued summons on Monday for May 16 to Municipal Committee (MC) Chairman Malik Muhammad Sharif, Chief Officer Rao Shafiqur Rehman and land owner Mian Khalid Iqbal Dhaddi in a petition filed by the MC’s councillor from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Ali Azhar Kathana.

The petitioner stated that the MC had previously bought over nine kanal on Chichawatni road for construction of a general bus stand from defeated candidate for MC councillor’s slot Mian Dhaddi against Rs19.8 million, which was sufficient for the purpose. But now the MC chairman wanted to ‘bribe’ the same land owner to switch his loyalty in favour of the ruling party by purchasing over 12 kanal more from him for Rs24 million. He sought a court order to restrain the MC chairman from purchasing more land.

In a meeting of the MC a few days ago, the house had passed a proposal under which the corporation would purchase more land for Rs24 million, but the petitioner and two other councillors had walked out against it.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2018