Book publishing in Pakistan

The publishing industry in Pakistan is hampered both by a low literacy rate (65%).

Accurate data on book publishing in Pakistan is difficult to obtain. Although the National Library of Pakistan in Islamabad serves as the official repository and is responsible for issuing ISBNs, compliance is limited. Many publishers, particularly those producing works in indigenous languages, often do not apply for ISBNs or submit copies of their publications as legally required. The lack of enforcement mechanisms further contributes to the inconsistency and incompleteness of publishing records in the country.

While official estimates suggest that only a few thousand books are published annually in Pakistan, actual figures may be significantly higher due to underreporting. For instance, Sher Alam Shinwari, a specialist in regional Pashto literature, estimated that over 25,000 books were published in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone in 2022 through private publishing houses. Many of these publications are thus believed to have bypassed registration with the National Library of Pakistan, reflecting broader issues of non-compliance with ISBN and legal deposit requirements.