F.P. Report
LANDI KOTAL: For the last 14 years, the library set up inside the shrine of great Pashto poet Hamza Baba has remained nonfunctional due to lack of librarian and other required staff member. It is to be stated that in 2008 the then Political Agent of ex-Khyber Agency,Ameer-ud-din Shah with his personal interest had erected a modern library with all of facilities and beside Hamza Baba literary works, it had been furnished with thousands of books of important and popular poets and writers.
However, with passage of fourteen years, staff has not been provided to the library that has suffered it a lot. Windows and shelves screens have smashed beside books and furniture worth of millions rupees have covered by inches of dust, the tribesmen regretted.
Professor Dr Tawab Masroor, a local poet and scholar said that it is irony of the time that library has remained nonfunctional for the last 14 years beside they convoyed their demand of deploying librarian and other staff to the top most officials of concerned authorities.
Instead of utilizing it as a knowledge house, precious books in the library are being wasted because of carelessness, Masroor remarked. He demanded of the authorities concerned to position a proper librarian and other staff to the library so that it can become bacon of wisdom in the area.
Nigar Ali, a first year student of Shinwari College said that if the library is functional, they can benefit from the books placed in the library. Instead of wasting time in useless activities, It will improve reading culture among the youth community, he remarked.
As per the information, on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Khyber, Tehsil Municipal Officer, Landi Kotal deployed two members of its staff at the Hamza Baba library to keep it maintain. When Director Archive and Library Mr Dilshad was contacted on the matter he assured that within two months librarian and other staff will be provided to it. We are planning to set up a large public library and auditorium, approachable to both male female readers in Landi Kotal and for the purpose selection site and funding process is under consideration, he added.
