• To strengthen and expand the growth of Medical Librarianship as a profession in Pakistan
• To provide a forum for National and International Communications
• To keep doctors and medical librarians aware of the latest developments taking place in the medical profession and librarianship
• To address issues related to Medical Librarianship
• To hold Conferences, Seminars and Workshops.

Forums of Medical Library Association of Pakistan (MELAP) include:

1. Continuing Education Forum: We learn by sharing our skills, knowledge and experiences.

2. Resource Sharing Forum: Our Medical libraries have their unique current & archival collection of literature; sharing these resources will make all partners resource rich.

It is essential for medical libraries in a developing country such as Pakistan to adopt cost effective measures such as Resource sharing to make available a wide range of medical literature for their patrons. MELAP compiled a Union list of serials holdings in ten libraries of Karachi initially.

Resource Sharing in other areas is also desirable such as training, networking and founding of a Medical Libraries Consortium.

3. Current Awareness: Good forum for updating ourselves with the latest

Professional knowledge and developments and develop our reading habits.

4. Writing and Speaking Forum: It is good place to develop our communication

Skills; provides an opportunity for grooming professionally and improve

Presentation skills before facing the larger audience.

5. Exchange of Views: MELAP provides a chance to share problems faced by an individual library and to explore best practices with friends and colleagues to seek counsel through collective wisdom.

6. Social Forum: MELAP provides an opportunity to develop contacts with fellow professionals, to make friends.

Future plans of MELAP include developing basic standards for medical libraries in Pakistan, developing core lists of books, journals, online source suitable for local conditions and needs, and most of all developing leadership skills and qualities among the information professionals/librarians and getting then recognized within the institutions they serve.