Libraries in Pakistan are struggling with dwindling footfall due to the growing dominance of digital media and emerging technologies.

Once vibrant centers of learning, many libraries now stand nearly deserted, reflecting a broader erosion of the country’s reading culture. Some book lovers attribute this decline to limited access to quality libraries, while others point to the absence of a national reading policy. Changing lifestyles and the attraction of digital platforms have weakened traditional reading habits, particularly among the youth, who increasingly prefer mobile phones over books. Advanced technologies have made it harder to engage younger generations with reading, as money once spent on books is now diverted to costly digital devices. When asked to choose between a book and a mobile phone, most students opt for the latter. This shift marks the beginning of a deeper cultural decline in reading and learning.

Libraries of different types, such as academic, public, special and national, are disappearing quietly, almost unnoticed. Once hubs of learning, research and community life, they are now abandoned or dysfunctional, leaving students, researchers and the general public without free access to books. Libraries usually provide access to essential knowledge resources and peaceful study spaces. Fewer people visit libraries in Pakistan, thanks to social media, mobile gadgets and digital entertainment that dull critical thinking. Many assume that........

© Pakistan Observer