The publishing industry in Pakistan is on the verge of extinction

It has been observed that publishers in Pakistan have not been efficient in digitizing their work.

on Jul 12, 2023

The publishing industry in Pakistan is on the verge of extinction

With the digital revolution changing the way we consume content, the book publishing industry in Pakistan is at a crucial point. It faces challenges such as monopolies held by a select few, a diminishing reading community, and high inflation rates.

Before the internet and social media, the traditional model for publishing in Pakistan was effective. Books were the primary source of personal entertainment, and public libraries and small shops had a network of lending books and magazines that worked well within local communities. However, from 2000-2005, the rise of internet usage caused a shift in reader behavior. People began consuming content online, accessing free PDFs and other materials, which resulted in a significant decline in profits for traditional publishers.

It has been observed that publishers in Pakistan have not been efficient in digitizing their work. ISBN Pakistan also lacks a digital record of all publishers in the country, resulting in all registration processes being done manually. However, it is important to note that the book publishing industry is actually growing globally. In fact, the global publishing revenue has increased from $122 billion in 2018 to $129 billion in 2023. The current market cap is $143.65 billion, and it is expected to reach $163.89 billion by 2030.

In Pakistan, academic textbooks make up a significant portion of published works, with only a small number of independent publishers producing fiction and research. While publishers worldwide typically seek out submissions from writers and employ literary agents to secure top-selling content, this is not the case in Pakistan. Despite the efforts of indie publishers like Readings and Liberty, there is still a need for more diverse and accessible publishing options in developing nations like Pakistan.

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