Any well-travelled patriotic Islamabadi will tell you that there is hardly anything that is world-class about Pakistan's capital. It is a much nicer place to stay, presently, than all cities on the plains, but that's about all.
Putting up another structure and buying half a million books will only line the pockets of those who approve and implement such projects. The amount of money allocated for it would be spent far better on providing cheap internet access for all potential users, not just those of the proposed library, but for everyone around the country. But note that access to information and its proper use require proficiency in English.
The city would do well to employ the best possible instructors in English who can help students self-learn the language using resources on the internet, free or for a nominal fee. These classes can be offered in the 10-odd existing public libraries and government schools, and colleges. Librarians, whose proficiency in English is generally very poor, can also benefit from them. They also need to acquire new skills - cataloging is now automated. They need to be made accountable by the CDA/Library Body for enlarging the readership and for turning their libraries into small cultural centres.
It is a criminal waste to build a new 'world-class' library when little or no attention has been paid for years to those that already exist
No new (or existing) Pakistani library with standard paper books can hope to remain current, given the price of books. But thankfully, most of the current books and even older volumes are now available on the Net for free download - all students and researchers know how to do this. These can be read on cell phones or printed. Public libraries can provide subsidized photocopying services.
See the pictures from December 2024 of my F-11 neighborhood public library, supposedly cared for by CDA. A few days ago, I went and confirmed that nothing has been done to rectify the dismal state that has existed for over 2 years!
It is a criminal waste to build a new 'world-class' library when little or no attention has been paid for years to those that already exist. This small library perhaps costs the city about Rs 2-3 million annually in salaries, books, etc. The only tangible output is about 2-3 books lent in a week. A few retirees come and read a couple of newspapers. That's about it. What a waste of a valuable resource.
In case the above fails to open the eyes of the administrators, let's also see the latest structure adjacent to this library. The concrete box-like structure outside the library was meant for a cafe for the patrons of the library and the nearby CDA gym. It has not been given on contract for the past 2-3 years. "Why is this so?", I asked a CDA employee. Whatever the truth, he did not hesitate in saying that the bribe demanded by CDA officers for giving the contract was too high!