nauguration Ceremony for Renovated Halls at the Central Public Library

On Monday, 21st Dhul-Qi’dah 1446 AH, the Directorate of Public Libraries under the Deputy Ministry of Art and Culture, part of the Ministry of Information and Culture, held an inauguration ceremony for the newly renovated halls of the Central Public Library.The event was attended by Mawlawi Atiqullah Azizi, Deputy Minister of Art and Culture; Hafiz Nematullah Montazir, Director of Public Libraries; Dr. Rahman Nordin, Deputy Director of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA); Fazil Akin Erdogan, Head of TIKA’s Kabul Office; as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture, journalists, and media representatives.The renovation project, conducted by TIKA over the course of one month, included two halls: a general reading hall and a dedicated children’s hall. The general hall now accommodates up to 100 readers, while the children’s hall can host 20 children at a time.The ceremony began with a speech by Hafiz Nematullah Montazir, who highlighted the crucial role that books and libraries play in education and societal development.Mawlawi Atiqullah Azizi then addressed the audience, emphasising the deep cultural, linguistic, and religious connections between Afghanistan and Turkey. He expressed gratitude to TIKA on behalf of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate and the Ministry of Information and Culture for its support in renovating and equipping public libraries.Dr. Rahman Nordin provided an overview of TIKA’s recent projects in Afghanistan, which span sectors such as healthcare, economy, education, social welfare, agriculture, and livestock. He underscored that libraries and reading are foundational pillars for a nation’s growth and development and assured continued collaboration in the coming year.Fazil Akin Erdogan, Head of TIKA in Kabul, reiterated Turkey’s long-standing partnership with Afghanistan and its commitment to ongoing support. He noted that the renovation of the library halls would encourage and motivate young people to engage in reading.The ceremony concluded with a prayer for blessings and future success.