Urdu bazaar: The world of publishing and printing

[ajtr]

Urdu bazaar: The world of publishing and printing​

DAWN.COM

Located on M.A. Jinnah road, Urdu bazaar is one of the oldest book markets not just in Pakistan but in the entire subcontinent. Some business owners here are third- and fourth-generation immigrants from India, who began selling books in the area. Initially, it was a small market, comprising 10 to 15 small rustic stalls which were originally located at Mission Road at the time of Independence.

It was in the 1950s that the market shifted to its present-day location. The bazaar is a hub for all services related to printing and publishing, with wholesalers selling paper, stationary and other materials required in the publishing industry. Still present in this market are publishers who have been printing Islamic and books on religion for over 50 years.– (Photos by Hussain Afzal/White Star)

Educational and course books are the highest-selling items and their demand remain steady throughout the year

Interestingly, here people can purchase books and stationary at retail as well as wholesale prices.

Non-educational books such as fiction as well as other items such as stationary are also sold here. According to Sajid Fazlee of Fazlee Book Super Market, Islamic and literary books are always in demand. In the past, people often went to libraries for new books but after the decline of libraries in the city, bookshops became popular.

If sifted through carefully, customers can also find classics that are easily a couple of centuries old, and sometimes even a first-edition...

According to several people in the bazaar, people prefer to purchase and read religious books in Ramazan and Moharram.

 

[Durrak]

All kind of books are available here

 

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Many booksellers told this reporter that the publishing industry is flourishing in Lahore when compared to the slower pace in Karachi

In 1992, Urdu bazaar was destroyed by a bomb blast. It took about two years to rebuild the market.

Mr Afzal of Qayyum Book Depot has inherited quite a legacy in this business. His grandfather, Sultan Hussain, published a book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah (pre-Partition) and was declared a traitor by the government. Hussain then moved to Pakistan and set-up shop in Urdu bazaar.

The works of Allama Iqbal, Ahmed Faraz, Ashfaque Ahmed and Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi are all-time best sellers.

According to the head of the Urdu bazaar Market Association, Mr. Aslam, various other book markets have flourished in Karachi such as the Sir Syed Urdu bazaar in Nazimabad. But this particular one is still very popular because it provides a one-stop solution to all printing-related services. Even some of the stationary sellers who were located on Marriot road, have slowly shifted to Urdu bazaar over time.

 

[Areesh]

Love this Bazar. Visited it several times. To buy books for my University studies. Indeed it is a world of publishing and printing.