World Book Day passes quietly in twin cities
Students browse through a wide range of Urdu fiction and non-fiction titles looking for their next summer read at a stall at the Spring Festival held in NUML, Islamabad. PHOTO: ONLINE
While World Book Day was observed globally on April 23, the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad marked the occasion with silence, as no events or activities were held to promote reading.
The day, which originated in Spain in 1616 and was officially declared "World Book Day" by UNESCO's General Council in 1995, aims to foster a love for reading and honour authors who produce quality literature.
However, the reading culture in the region continues to decline sharply.
According to the Urdu Bazaar Booksellers Union in Rawalpindi, readership across genresincluding religious, historical, political, humorous, educational, and fiction — has dwindled significantly.
Where once dozens of readers would visit daily, only a handful now show up, with many browsing without buying.
The union attributes this decline to the growing dominance of religious, political, and humorous content on social media, which has replaced traditional reading habits.
Another major factor is the rising cost of paper, which has made books increasingly expensive. According to the union, it is now rare to find a well-regarded book priced under Rs2,000.
Due to this trend, many booksellers in Urdu Bazaar have shifted their business focus to selling textbooks, notebooks, and stationery.
Although major vendors still stock religious, historical, and political literature, sales have dropped to negligible levels.
In the past, Rawalpindi's Saddar area used to see vibrant book stalls set up every Sunday outside shuttered shops, where people of all ages would browse through piles of books laid out on footpaths. These stalls, once a bustling attraction, have now disappeared.
Until the 1990s, more than half of Saddar's sidewalks were occupied by booksellers. What was once a profitable business has nearly vanished due to a lack of buyers.
From 1947 to 2000, Rawalpindi had 13 libraries located along Murree Road, Saddar, Liaquat Bagh, and Saidpur Road. Today, only two public libraries remain: the Municipal Library and the Cantonment Board Library.