LARKANA: Execution of the project to construct the building of proposed Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Public Library could not be started as yet despite all formalities having been completed and even tender floated. The only issue that is to be resolved is possession of the land to be handed over to the culture department.

The proposal was moved on May 16 last year by the then Larkana commissioner, Ghanwar Ali Leghari, in his letter to the then culture secretary.

In his letter, available with Dawn, Mr Leghari had suggested that keeping in view the constantly rising number of people requiring the study, research and book-reading facilities and inadequate seating capacity at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library, a new library was needed to be established.

The Sir Shahnawaz Memorial Library was established in 1976 and is currently catering to the study and research needs of thousands of people – mainly students, teachers and researchers. It has 1,500 seats but the number of people regularly visiting it every day has almost doubled.

Officials say all formalities completed, budget allocated and tender floated but possession of land is on hold for months

The letter told the culture secretary that there was a dire need for the establishment of another public library to accommodate people coming from the entire district.

The former commissioner not only identified the land, i.e. a 14,552-sq-ft piece of land situated between Trauma Centre and the ADBP building along VIP Road, and termed it very ideal and suitable location for the purpose, but also got the proposal vetted and approved by the authorities concerned.

The land was entered in the city survey. Submitting the plan, he called for its inclusion in the annual development programme (ADP) of the financial year 2023-2024. The copies of the plan and related documents were sent to relevant authorities, including the chief secretary. The then assistant commissioner (revenue), Larkana, had called for identifying the piece of land in his May 9, 2023 letter to the deputy commissioner.

The then culture secretary, Abdul Aleem Lashari, in his July 10, 2023 letter to the commissioner said that the development work for the proposed Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Public Library had been included in ADP. The allocated budget for the project was Rs50 million. Mr Lashari sought possession of the land as soon as possible so as to enable the department to start execution of the construction work.

It is learnt that the Larkana Assistant Commissioner, Arslan Chaudhry, along with the assistant director of the culture department recently visited the proposed site for demarcation and handover possession of land to the department.

When contacted, the AC told Dawn that he had now forwarded the papers to the office of the deputy commissioner. However, the land is still yet to be handed over to the culture department and, therefore, the work could not be started.

Aijaz Leghari, Chairman of the Larkana District Council, said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership was also keen to establish the library. Appreciating the efforts made by former commissioner Gahanwar Laghari, he said the proposal was floated and had matured during his days. He committed to play his role in expediting the process.

Roshan Ali Kanasro, the Resident Director of the Planning and Development wing of the Culture Department, had also recently confirmed that the tender for the construction work had been floated.

“The matter hit snags as the possession of the land was delayed. We are ready to start execution of construction work once the land is handed over to the department,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2024