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Friday, October 4, 2024

National Library of Pakistan restoring Quaid e Azam’s manuscripts

News Desk |

National Library of Pakistan (NLP) will execute a project to digitally preserve rare books and manuscripts of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal in the year 2018-19, a local publication reported.

Citing an official source, the report said that the project titled “Digitalization of Rare Books and Manuscript Collection” will be completed with an amount of Rs 0.8 million approved in the budget. Under this project, around 10,000 rare books and manuscripts comprising over 53,00,000 pages will be digitalized, the official was quoted to have revealed.

The digitalization of books and manuscripts will serve as a catalyst to aware younger generation with thoughts and messages of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal, as the younger generation has grown up and away from the paper medium and onto screens.

Also in a heartwarming initiative, National Library of Pakistan (NLP) has established a well-equipped computer lab facility for the visually impaired persons, as a part of its efforts to provide reading facilities to the persons with disabilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Sameena Hassan assured that the commission would continue its cooperation for providing books and other facilities to the women. Advisor to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui also inaugurated a 20-computers lab equipped with special programmes for the visually impaired persons, at the library.

According to a senior official of NLP, the computer lab has been established with the joint efforts of National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH) and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications. The lab is equipped with 20 computers initially with the latest software through which visually impaired persons can get knowledge about diverse subjects without any hassle, the official revealed.

Earlier this year, NLP had established a `Braille Book Corner’ with placement of all required material for visually impaired persons so that they could study in a comfortable environment and not feel deprived. NH&LH Division since assuming responsibilities to supervise this institution has taken strong development initiatives and turned it into a state-of-the-art knowledge center for the visitors.

Read more: Why Libraries need a new narrative

Addressing an inauguration ceremony of a computer lab in the NLP last week, Advisor to former Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage (NH&LH), Irfan Siddiqui  said that the National Library of Pakistan (NLP), after equipping with latest facilities, has now transformed into an effective knowledge centre for the visitors of federal capital as well as the whole country.

He said that the national level library had been neglected since its establishment in the year 1993 with no development project started during this long period. However, the projects worth Rs110 million initiated during the last one and a half year have played instrumental role in the improvement of its facilities while making it a far better place for the readers.

Also in a heartwarming initiative, National Library of Pakistan (NLP) has established a well-equipped computer lab facility for the visually impaired persons, as a part of its efforts to provide reading facilities to the persons with disabilities.

He thanked the Secretary of NCSW, Sameena Hassan for the efforts of the commission, and said this center will provide a platform to the women for their creative writing endeavors, study and research in a peaceful environment. Speaking on the occasion, Sameena Hassan assured that the commission would continue its cooperation for providing books and other facilities to the women.

Read more: Digital Literacy in the 21st century Pakistan

Advisor to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui also inaugurated a 20-computers lab equipped with special programmes for the visually impaired persons, at the library. This computer lab, established with the cooperation of Ministry of Information, Technology and Telecommunications, is indeed a great addition in the ‘Braille Corner’ of the library, he said.