Books and tea: Library cafe established in Quetta
Manan Mandokhail, Syed Muhammad Yaseen
“Thirst of knowledge and taste of tea brought me here”, Abdul Basit, a young man sipping traditional Quetta tea says. Like Basit, dozens of youngsters are sitting in the Royal Cafe located in Quetta’s Arts School Road.
The first-ever library cafe established in the city continues to attract students and people belonging to various walks of life. “No dearth of book-lovers here”, Fahad Butt, a 26-year old young student of political science told Quetta Voice. Mr. Butt has established a cafe in the heart of Quetta city.
Quetta famous for hoteling and book-lovers
“I had seen such hotels in Lahore”, Butt narrates the idea behind the establishment of the Cafe. Butt is the son of Muhammad Saleem Butt, one of the martyrs of the deadly bombing of August 8, 2016, in Quetta’s civil hospital.
Quetta, the capital of Balochistan used to be famous for hoteling in the past. Jinnah Road, the city’s main commercial center was once famous for political, literary, and social gatherings at various hotels.
Students said the city’s identity was tolerance and brotherhood
“This city’s identity was tolerance, brotherhood, and love”, Abdul Malik, another student sipping the tea and studying a philosophy book said.
Portraits of former Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani, Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and other prominent political figures displayed at the entrance of the hotel.
“We can relax and get a knowledge here”, Irfan Sher Dotani said.
Portraits of renowned poets and literary figures displayed
Portraits of renowned poets and literary figures including Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Habib Jalib, Parveen Shakir, and others also displayed.
“I have been appreciated a lot”, Fahad Butt said. He said students, poets, literary figures, families, authors are coming here for tea and studying books.
To support the idea, some professors contributed books to the hotel administration. “We do not charge extra money from students for preparing for competitive examinations”, Mr. Butt mentioned. During the sacred month of Ramazan ul Mubarak, the number of customers has doubled.
Books and tea: Library cafe established in Quetta
