Since I moved back from London last year, I settled back to my city and daily routine fairly easily. But the two things I still miss the most, from the city I called home for four years, are the books and the parks. The combination of the two is the best way to while away a pleasant afternoon, detaching yourself from a frenzied life. In Pakistan, we are missing the two main ingredients. The lack of secure clean and aesthetically pleasing parks (suitable for an individual to spend time in by themselves) and the absence of public libraries leave us wanting. All libraries that do exist have restricted memberships and a few have been recently shutdown for security reasons.

The vacuum created by their absence has not been sufficiently dealt with. Libraries associated with educational institutions are under-equipped and are not accessible to the public. There are no private or state-run libraries with membership open to any individual who wants to read. Admittedly with a dishearteningly low literacy rate in this country, we need to focus on primary education to begin with before jumping the gun. But nonetheless for those of us who have been blessed with a decent education and have cultivated a passion for reading, why must we suffer from this handicap?

There are no organized book clubs, through schools or societies to encourage reading habits nationally or locally. The new breed of bookshops that have sprung up have a (somewhat overly priced) constant supply of latest popular books from around the world, bearing witness to the fact, that there are masses of readers out there. If the number is large enough to warrant the existence of such bookshops, why isn’t it enough for government bodies or private investors to take the initiative and open public libraries?

The recent surge of art galleries over the past two years has proved that when artists and patrons unite they can propagate a culture of exhibitions, discussions and seminars for all art lovers. With the number of galleries that have emerged and a throng of art lovers lining the halls, we can rest assured the same would happen if we were to create such a place for avid book readers who crave a literary environment. Libraries do not merely exist to lend books, but they serve as a common meeting ground for people seeking knowledge and facilitate group activities such as discussions and book readings. Purchasing books at stores is a practice we all indulge in occasionally but nonetheless there are millions of books out there and they should be made accessible to readers at a nominal lending fee. Shopping at a bookshop is akin to having only a plate of appetizers at a restaurant. We get a taste of what is on offer and our curiosity is stimulated.

A library charging a reasonable annual fee and an organized system of membership, with the necessary security measures would ensure that an account is kept of every member and every book lent. This would allow the average literate individual to seek knowledge on diverse subjects, and not be dictated by his/her pocket or the best seller list posted up in bookshops. A new library has opened in Lahore recently and is attracting a large number of people. The upkeep and maintenance of public parks in Lahore is also exemplary. Karachi has a number of parks that are dilapidated and ignored; we need to focus our resources and efforts to look after and maintain our public parks as well as initiate public library projects.

The city of London famous for its museums and historical sights is also home to the exquisite British Library, inside The British Museum. It houses not only original manuscripts of several classic pieces of literature but benches carved with the names of famous poets, economists and writers who sat there reading and writing. Just to think, what an extraordinary opportunity I have had, to sit in the place where some of my favourite writers from past centuries spent their time. To gaze up at the enormously tall shelves lining the walls, four-storeys high filled with millions of books that I can choose to read, was a truly memorable feeling.

My most enjoyable afternoons were spent searching for books to read, in my local library in London based on some review I read, or the familiarity of an author, or merely if the synopsis at the book sounded intriguing. I would then saunter off to the park, finding myself a peaceful spot, ideally hidden away, and spend hours immersed in my novel of choice. It is truly fulfilling to read a good book, a feeling all readers must be able to relate to. So a person searching for a something to read should only have to find their way to their nearest public library, not having to settle for window shopping, or waiting for a sale at pricey bookshops or relentlessly searching for a good bargain at the Sunday bazaar.

For those who want, there is a world of imagination and immense knowledge to be found in books. Every person ought to have a chance to discover what they love to read. I dream of the day that my city Karachi will boast of libraries, bursting with books and patrons alike.