Rawalpindi Cantonment library remains a major academic centre

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Public Library, founded in 1891, continues to function as an important centre of academic and literary activity in the city, according to Rawalpindi Cantonment Board spokesman Aamir Rashid.

Speaking to the media, Rashid said the library now holds around 50,000 books in Urdu, English and Persian, making it one of the prominent academic institutions in the region. He said the institution was originally named the Lansdowne Trust Library after Lord Lansdowne, who was the Viceroy and Governor-General of the subcontinent at the time.

Rashid said the foundation stone of the library was laid on Mall Road in 1891 by Sardar Kirpal Singh and Sardar Sujan Singh Rai Bahadur. He added that the facility began with a collection of about 5,000 books and was set up to promote knowledge and literature while offering a peaceful and quality study environment for British families living in the cantonment.

He said the library later developed into an important public resource. According to Rashid, it was first located on Kashmir Road before being shifted in 1980. He added that when it was established, it was the city’s only library and served as a main centre for people seeking knowledge.