KLA President invites eminent physicist to attend KFBL 2024

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of the Karachi Library Association (KLA), Farheen Mahmood, extended the invitation to attend the first-ever Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL 2024) to an eminent physicist, Prof Shadab Hussain, which was promptly and gladly accepted. 

The KLA is offering technical assistance to the KFBL, being presented by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of English Speaking Union of Pakistan, with its inaugural edition scheduled to be staged at the Rangoonwala Community Centre on January 27 and 28, 2024. It’s going to be the first high-profile event of its kind in the country, expected to be inaugurated by the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi. 

The Hyderabad-based Prof Shadab Hussain, who has worked as Director Colleges, Government of Sindh, came to Karachi to attend a launching of a book on physics which took place at the Adamjee Government Science College on December 20. 

The KLA President, Farheen Mahmood, who is the Chief Librarian at the Adamjee Government College, during her meeting with former DG Colleges, Prof Shadab Hussain, at the book launch, availed the opportunity of inviting the learned professor to the KFBL 2024. 

“Prof Shadab Hussain, while accepting the invitation, also wished the organizers of KFBL the best of luck. He didn’t mince words in stating that he has always remained supportive to such initiatives,” the KLA President disclosed in a brief chat with PNFS soon after their meeting.

KLA upbeat ahead of KFBL 2024

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The sixth meeting of office-bearers of the Karachi Library Association (KLA), held on December 2, discussed at length various aspects of the Karachi Festival of Books and Libraries (KFBL 2024) in which they will be offering technical assistance besides organizing events of its. 

The KFBL, is being presented by Jumbo Publishing with the collaboration of English Speaking Union of Pakistan, and its inaugural edition is scheduled to be staged at the Rangoonwala Community Centre on January 27 and 28, 2024. It’s going to be the first high-profile event of its kind in Pakistan whereby libraries will be in focus. 

The KLA President, Farheen Mahmood, chaired the meeting which was also attended by Shama Bano (Senior Vice President), Syed Khalid Mahmood (Advisor), Bushra Roohi (Vice President), Nasir Mustafa (Secretary General), Wajid Ali Chandio (Joint Secretary), Amir Subhani (Treasurer), Ali Asghar Dars (Public Relation Secretary) and Farzana Zafar (Member, Executive Committee). Younis Hashmi (Overseas Coordinator) joined the meeting from Canada via Zoom while Uzma Rehmat, a promising young librarian, was an invited observer. 

The KLA officials were very enthusiastic about their involvement in the KFBL 2024 and they reiterated their desire to make the most of this opportunity by mobilizing all their resources. They have planned to hold competitions of library quiz to engage maximum number of college students. 

All the KLA office-bearers have volunteered visiting different public, academic and special libraries to carry out a survey of their needs and shortcomings. They deliberated on various issues on which they will be organizing sessions during the KFBL 2024.