Years of neglect leave New Karachi’s Umar Khan Library in ruins

New Karachi's Umar Khan Library, once a hub of reading and study, now lies in ruins, a victim of neglect and criminal activity. The library, along with its adjoining dispensary, has been left to decay for years. The building's structure has suffered, with doors and windows stolen, while drug abusers now inhabit the premises. Shabana Riffat, the library director, notes that the situation began deteriorating several years ago when drug addicts began breaking in and stealing valuable materials.

Security, once lacking, only exacerbated the problem as thefts continued, making it increasingly challenging to maintain the building. The UC office had previously operated from the library premises before being relocated, and the adjoining dispensary fell into similar decline due to an NGO takeover. UC officials attempted to maintain the facilities using their own resources, but without proper institutional support, they could not sustain the libraries.

Responsibility for reconstructing and restoring the libraries now falls on the local government and town administration. Despite the dire condition, the need for libraries remains, as residents still require them, but the facilities themselves have largely disappeared. The Hakeen Ahsan Library, where the books and staff have relocated, shows a similar state with only old books remaining.

New books for general reading have not been provided for years, and newspaper deliveries have ceased, owing to unpaid debts.