Exigency of Public Libraries in Gilgit-Baltistan

Ibrar Abhi 

Library plays a vital role in enhancing, promoting and sustaining the knowledge, culture and heritage of a society and a nation.

As a gateway to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role in society. The services and resources put forth by them create appropriate circumstances for learning, support literacy and education. These opportunities help in shaping various perspectives and new ideas that are central to an innovative and creative society. In a world without libraries it would be onerous to research or to preserve world’s cumulative  knowledge and heritage for future generations.

The conundrum of public libraries in gilgit Baltistan remained un scrutinised. The people of gilgit Baltistan are deprived of educational institutions and public libraries as well. Lack of  libraries dismantled the youth to seek knowledge and to boost themselves in the run of growing technological progress of the world.

Population of 22 million with a literacy rate of 72% were hardly provided with 5 -6 public libraries in the entire region. The generations yet to come will suffer further if remained unchecked. Lack of libraries and educational institutions had compelled the youth to seek knowledge in various parts of the country. Due to the growing inflation and costly education, Major chunk of the educated young generation can’t afford to  pay educational fares and to borrow valuable books. These challenges left them un associated with the growing technological advancement.

There is a dire need of public libraries in Gilgit Baltistan because the future of modern generation depends upon the access and availability of knowledge at ease. Libraries which are functional are piled up with outdated literature and were not upgraded which contributed minute knowledge in the field of science and technology. In this regard the government of Gilgit Baltistan had shown blind eye to these growing challenges. The future of this generation and generations yet to come are solely dependent on availability of knowledge. It is responsibility of the populace and the government to build new libraries with upgraded literature so that the young generation could easily commute to seek knowledge in public libraries. In order to make future generation compatible to the growing technological race and to boost the economic and educational wheel of the country all efforts be put together to build new public libraries in Gilgit Baltistan.