Karachi World Book Fairreturns in December
With 60 book stalls in the main gymnasium hall and the grounds, the fair offers more than 300,000 books on fiction, non-fiction and academics. The book fair will continue till tomorrow. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
The Karachi World Book Fair 2025 will be held from December 18 to 22 at the Karachi Expo Centre, the Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA) announced at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.
PPBA Chairman Kamran Noorani said the annual fair has become an important feature of Pakistan's cultural calendar, bringing together readers, authors and educational organizations. "The Karachi World Book Fair has emerged as a landmark platform for celebrating knowledge, literacy and the written word," he remarked.
Secretary General PPBA and Convener of the fair, Waqar Mateen Khan, said more than 85% of the exhibition space has already been booked and attendance is expected to exceed 500,000 visitors this year.
He noted that the strong response reflects the expanding significance of the fair.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said publishers from the UAE, Malaysia, Egypt and the United Kingdom will participate in the 2025 edition.
"Last year, more than 500,000 people visited the fair, and in 2023, over 450,000. This year, we are expecting an even greater turnout," he said.
He added that the fair will feature a dedicated activity zone to host book launches and discussions. "We are setting up a space with seating for about 200 people for writers, authors and publishers to engage directly with readers. We could have used this area for a food court to earn revenue, but we preferred to support literary engagement instead." Mateen confirmed that 300 out of 315 stalls have already been reserved across Halls 1, 2, and 3 of the Expo Centre.
PPBA Vice Chairman Nadeem Mazhar acknowledged the support of the National Book Foundation and various government bodies.
Representatives of major publishing groups and the Urdu Bazaar Traders Association also expressed their commitment to the event.
Organizer's said the Karachi World Book Fair 2025 will once again provide a vibrant platform for cultural exchange, literary dialogue and the celebration of Pakistan's reading culture.