Afghanistan: Bookstore owners and Publishers Express Concern Over a Shortage of Book Marketplaces

Discover Afghanistan's book industry challenges: economic issues, declining sales, and the impact of political upheaval. Stay informed with the Publishers Union's initiatives.

on Nov 27, 2023

Afghanistan: Bookstore owners and Publishers Express Concern Over a Shortage of Book Marketplaces | Frontlist

Bookstore owners and publishing houses have expressed concern about the lack of book markets in Afghanistan, claiming that they have lost 50% of their clients in the last two years, according to Afghanistan-based TOLO News.

Officials from these publishing houses and bookstores stated that the book business is currently declining and that they are suffering economic issues.

"We have been working in book sales, publishing, and distribution for about 18 years," said Zaki Ahmadi, the head of a publishing business. Currently, the people's economic position has the largest impact on book sales."

Another bookstore, Azizullah, stated that commerce has "diminished." "Business used to be very good; now it is not; now it is very diminished," he remarked. Our economy is severely harmed."
According to the Publishers Union in Kabul, around 180 publishers, 550 booksellers, and 150 printing mills now operating in Afghanistan are suffering economic issues. According to TOLO News, certain publishing houses and bookstores have expressed concerns about the economy and a drop in sales.

According to Abdul Wadood Mukhtarzada, the head of the Publishers Union in Kabul, they are working with the Ministry of Information and Culture to establish a commission to address the difficulties of publishers and bookstores.

"Through the Prime Minister's Office, the Administrative Office established a commission in the Ministry of Information and Culture." The commission has made attempts to categorise the publisher's difficulties in support of the publishers," TOLO News reported Abdul Wadood Mukhtarzada as saying.

Meanwhile, students identified economic issues as one of the elements undermining the culture of reading and acquiring books. According to TOLO News, a student named Eman Haidari stated, "Student interest in book reading culture is not good these days."

Meanwhile, at least 52% of visual media outlets in Afghanistan have suspended operations in the last two years, according to Afghanistan-based Khaama Press.Since the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, press freedom has taken a back seat, with many limitations imposed on journalists.

Furthermore, according to local media reports, since the country's political upheaval, 94% of women journalists have lost their jobs owing to employment limitations, according to Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, according to an NAI poll, at least 77 television stations out of 147 visual media outlets have shut down due to "economic challenges."