Punjab College Library Association: A Historical Perspective Presenter: Abdul Majeed Khan Sajid Founder and Patron in Chief Punjab College Library Association (PCLA)

Introduction This paper provides a historical background of PCLA from its birth to date It indicates the reasons due to which PCLA was established It also discusses the contribution of different professionals for the approval of service structure for college librarians from BS 17 to 20 It also highlights the contribution of Pakistan Library Association (PLA) towards the approval of service structure

Research Methodology This paper is basically based on personal experiences and eye witnesses of author who had been working in the field of librarianship since 1946 The author is founder of Punjab College Library Association (PCLA). Now he is Pattern in chief of the Association

Ground Realities To Establish Punjab College Library Association PLA came into existence in 1958 College librarians being meager in numbers could not achieve their targets At that time PLA could not fulfill the genuine demands of college librarians Education policy was not implemented

Ground Realities To Establish Punjab College Library Association Unattractive pay scales of college librarians Non availability of service structure of college librarians Disparity of status and pay scales with their counter parts; college lecturers

Establishment of PCLA PCLA came into existence in I was elected as the first president of PCLA. I become the founder member of PLA as well as PCLA at a time

Education Policy Para runs as under: “In order to promote the library movement in the country, it will be necessary to establish salaried cadres of librarians; both for educational and public libraries. Librarians will be placed on similar - salary scales as the teachers and/ or lecturers of the institution to which they are appointed”.

Achievements of The PCLA In 1973, PCLA succeeded in my leadership to get BPS 17 for MA Library Science but it was only given only to 25 percent of the total strength through Pay Revision Rules 1973 In 1977, Pay Revision Rules 1973 were amended and cent per cent posts in BPS 17 were allowed But service structure for college librarians remained from BS instead of BS 17-20

Present Service Structure Case On the basis of Education Policy , a case was submitted in 2004 for award of Service structure from BS The case drafted by me and submitted with the signature of Malik M. Aslam Nasir, the then President PCLA Malik Aslam Nasir could not continue the case due to his personal affairs.

Contributions of Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera On my directions, Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera made a violent tour throughout the province of Punjab in the year 2005 and created a new zeal and vigour to the dishearted college librarians He gave a new life to PCLA It will not be out of place to mention here that he did this all, spending his own pocket money and did not claim a single penny from PCLA I am indebted and pay tribute to his efforts

Contributions of Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera After this violent tour, a general body meeting of PCLA was held at MAO College Lahore on May 21, 2005 to conduct new general elections Following office bearers were elected in general body meeting President : Malik Muhammad Aslam Nasir General Secretary : M. Asif Khan Secretary Finance : Khalid Mahmood Sanghera

Contributions of Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera In the general body meeting it was also decided that the patron in chief will enjoy all powers regarding finance and policy matters of PCLA I was elected as life time patron in chief I deputed Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera to take the service structure case in his hand He pursued the case whole heartedly He held a meeting with DPI (Colleges) and Director Libraries Punjab and succeeded to convince them.

Contributions of Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera The DPI (Colleges) Punjab forwarded the case to Secretary Higher Education with recommendations to award Scales equal to college teachers I with Khalid Mahmood Sanghera held meetings with the then secretary Higher Education, Government of the Punjab, Deputy Secretary Finance and other higher authorities for award of service structure BS 17 to 20 They all were convinced and promised to grant the structure according to our demand

Abdul Majeed Khan Sajid Gold Medal In recognition to my professional achievements and contributions for the profession PCLA started Abdul Majeed Khan Sajid (AMK Sajid) Gold Medal The first AMK Sajid Gold Medal was awarded to Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera on his professional contributions This ceremony was celebrated on September 6, 2006 at Government College of Education Multan

AMK Sajid Gold Medal Ceremony Dr. Muhammad Fazil Khan, the then Chairman department of Library and Information Science, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur participated the ceremony as guest of honour From the year 2006, AMK Sajid Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals are awarded to students of library science who gain First, second and third position from Inter to Master level in Board of Intermediate & Secondary education and B. Z. University, Multan This gracious ceremony is being organized every year

AMK Sajid Gold Medal Ceremony On Feb 24, 2010 Ch. Muhammad Hanif, the then President PLA (Punjab) and Dr. Muhammad Ramzan, the then Vice President PLA (Punjab) came to Multan as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour at the AMK Sajid Gold Medal ceremony. In addition to this ceremony, PCLA in collaboration with PLA conducted a training workshop for Librarians at University of Education Multan Campus Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera was coordinator of the training workshop

Contributions of PLA PLA body wholeheartedly helped PCLA and conducted series of meetings with higher authorities of education and finance departments, Govt. of the Punjab to resolve the case well in time PLA body arranged a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary Punjab to probe the service structure case of college librarians speedily Mr. Khalid Mahmood Sanghera participated in each meeting as PCLA representative

Contributions of PLA I am very much grateful to Ch. Muhammad Hanif, President PLA (HQ), Dr. Muhammad Ramzan, President PLA (Punjab Branch), Mr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya, Secretary General PLA (HQ) and Mr. Abid Ali Gill, Executive Counsellor PLA (Punjab) who helped PCLA to promote its cause from every corner with their selfless efforts.

Contributions of PLA The part played by PLA is so much appreciable and commendable that I am very much indebted to them. The present PLA is so much involved to promote the cause of college librarians that I can safely say that need of PCLA could be ignored.

THANKS