Turbat is the most literate city of Balochistan with a 61 per cent literacy rate, 56 per cent of whom are girls. However, the dearth of public libraries in Turbat poses a serious challenge. You! takes a look...
Public libraries play an important role in supporting education and literacy. Libraries are more important than ever before. In a society where the cost of living continues to rise, public libraries remain one of the few free spaces that provide free access to books – regardless of one’s social-economic status. Unfortunately, while the world is moving towards digital libraries, our country has failed to provide public lending libraries.
Turbat, the second biggest city in Balochistan, has been grappling with shortage of libraries for long, especially for female students. According to a report, shared by census authorities in February 2022 following the census held in 2017, “Turbat is the most literate city of Balochistan with a 61 per cent literacy rate, 56 per cent of whom are girls. Yet, the city has always lacked a library for girls. With only one public library for students in general, girls rarely visit for issues concerning their restraints and other issues including distance and transportation.”
Hundreds of students come from rural areas to Turbat for studying with lots of expectations. However, they get disappointed when they do not find appropriate environment and well-equipped libraries. “I thought I would prepare notes for various tests in the city’s library but what I found was very discouraging. There is no conducive environment for girls to study in peace in this library,” shares Sammi Mehr, a 10th grade student, who came from her hometown Dasht to Turbat a few months ago in order to study.
“Do the authorities think that just one library is enough to create a reading culture in Turbat? Due to the prevailing economic plight of people, buying books is a luxury that only few can afford. In fact, the students are craving for a library and want to read new books but no one is interested in establishing libraries in Turbat,” expresses Shakeel Phullaan, a resident of Turbat.
The dearth of libraries in Turbat (in Kech District), has compelled a number of female students to travel to Quetta in order to find suitable places for studies and to prepare for their tests or exams. Often, they face a lot of challenges. “It is not an easy task to come all the way from Turbat to Quetta. Mind you, the distance from Quetta to Turbat is approximately 750 kilometres). First of all, we have to take permission from our parents, and then we have to arrange for funds and accommodation. Life would have been easy, if we had a girls’ library in our city,” sighs Maheen Ameer, an international relationship (IR) department student.
“Living in a hostel is very challenging for a female student like me in other cities. As being a female student, I often face harassment and I need to be vigilant regarding my surroundings,” elucidates Mahrang Azeem, a university student.
The district authority shut down the only public library between January 1, 2021, to June 16, 2023, due to structure faults in the building and for renovations. Recently, it has been reopened; however, the management of the library revised its days and timings. Before the library’s closing, it was open on Saturday for students but now it remains closed on Saturdays and the timings are also revised from 9am to 6pm. “The closure on Saturdays and revised timings has created inconvenience for students like me,” says Gulshan, a science student preparing for MDCAT. “I was compelled to come to Quetta to prepare for my exams as I could not afford to waste my Saturdays,” adds Gulshan.
It is also a matter of concern that the only library of Turbat accommodates only 30 students at a time. “There is not enough room for students to sit and study. Whenever I go to the library, I hardly find any empty corner,” laments Saman, a college student. “We need a bigger library with lots of books,” she adds.
The shortage of public libraries in Turbat has also compelled many girls to leave their education in the midst as not everyone can afford to go to libraries and study, situated in other cities. The need of the hour is to build more spacious and well-equipped public libraries in Turbat. Aziz Hasil, a student of English Literature is a strong advocate for the establishment of up-to -date public libraries in Turbat, District Kech. “Building new libraries can encourage students, especially girls, to concentrate on their studies in a peaceful environment. I have been vocal about this issue on all social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X,” tells Aziz.
“A separate library for female students is essential as libraries play a crucial role in promoting the literacy rate and promoting educational opportunities,” emphasis Ali Jan Maqsood, a freelance journalist in Turbat.
Munaj Gul Muhammad, a freelance Turbat-based journalist writes in one of his articles, “The desire to learn is not the issue. The environment to do it in, is.”
Last but not least, the government and other relevant stakeholders should play a positive role to build more libraries for female students in Turbat.
The writer is a freelance columnist in Balochistan.
