KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some bookstores’ owners in Khost City, the capital of southeastern Khost province, complain about their dwindling business.
GhulamRasoul, one of the bookstore owners, told Pajhwok Afghan News as a result of people’s deteriorated economic condition, the buying and selling of books had declined by 70 percent.
“At this stage, people don’t have money; they even cannot afford to buy food so how would they buy books. In the past we sold books worth up to 40,000 afs but currently we can’t sell books of 10,000 afs.”
Azizullah, another bookstore owner, said the reason behind the declining business of books was regime change. Most people lost their jobs in the government and private sector, he added.
“During republic era, people evinced great interest in reading and buying books. Now people have lost jobs and salaries so how could they afford to buy books,” he said.
Cultural and Information Director Shabir Ahmad Usmani said he was planning to organize a book fair to promote the culture of book reading.
In addition, he said separate programs would be held in schools and other educational institutions to promote the culture of reading books.
nh/ma
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