Libraries asked to keep copies of Nawaz biography

LAHORE: The Archives and Libraries Wing of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) has asked all public and academic libraries in Punjab to get copies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s biography for their bookshelves.

The wing, in notification No SO (LIB) A&L/1-3/2014 (P) dated 04-01-2017, addressed to the Director General Public Libraries, Director Public Instructions (Colleges) and Director Public Instruction (Schools), asked them to secure copies of the biography for the libraries in Punjab.“The heads of the institutions will purchase the approved book from funds available with them,” the notification said.

According to the notification issued by the section officer (Libraries), the wing has recommended the book “Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Dastan-e-Hayat” written by Tariq Ahmad Khan. A copy of the notification has also been forwarded to Tariq Ahmad Khan c/o Ali Publishers of Pakistan, Post Box No 918, Dakhana Gulgasht Colony, Multan.

Talking to The News, A&L Wing Secretary Ahmad Raza Sarwar said the A&L Book Review Committee, as per its normal practice, received many books including Mian Nawaz Sharif’s biography with the author’s request for its review and approval for public perusal. He said the committee reviewed the book to check any objectionable, violent, hate and anti-Pakistan or anti-religion content.

He said the move was not politically motivated and there was neither any intention to include it in the syllabus of schoolchildren nor it was mandatory for the libraries to keep it. He said the committee approved the book just as the Censor Board approved a film. “As the Censor Board’s approval doesn’t necessarily mean that the film will be screened in cinemas, it is also optional for the libraries to keep the book, which is now duly approved by the Archives & Libraries Wing, Punjab,” he explained.

The sources, meanwhile, said the government played no role decision about book on Nawaz biography