Professor Muhammad Hamid Zaman visited bookstores in old Urdu bazars of Lahore and Karachi to understand recent trends, sales figures, and reading habits.
He found that most publishers print around 1000 copies per book, with only about 8-9 sold annually, indicating a significant challenge for local authors and publishers.
Booksellers reported rampant copyright violations, where original works are easily copied and shared without consent, discouraging local publishing efforts.
Loadshedding disrupts printing processes, leading to frequent losses of stock and ink, increasing the cost of reprinting and affecting business operations.
Despite challenges, young people in Pakistan express a desire for quality literature, indicating potential future growth opportunities for the industry.
Zaman's visit highlighted the need for support systems and policies to foster a healthier ecosystem for booksellers and publishers.