‘Books sale, printing business decline nationwide’

KABUL (Pajhwok): The number of active bookstores and publication houses had declined nationwide currently and the trend caused the sale and purchase of books also to dwindle, according to a Bookstores Union on Sunday.

Syed Ahmad Saeed, head of the Afghanistan Bookstores Union (ABU), told Pajhwok Afghan News three years ago 550 bookstores and around 200 publication houses were functional in the country.

He said after Covid-19 pandemic and political change in the country around 30 percent bookstores and publication houses were closed.

For instance, he said: “There were 20 bookstores and publications in the Melli Market in Pul-i-Surkh area but now fewer are functional. In Dehmazang area there were 12 bookstores but now fewer remaining. In Joysher area there was a market of book sale but not there is nothing. You can judge from this.”

According to Saeed deteriorating economic situation of people also caused 90 percent decline the sale of books.

He said government also failed to act against the violation of copy right.

Aminullah, a book seller in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, said he had a book sale shop over the past 18 years and never noticed such decline in the sale of book that happened this year.

He said in the past he sold up to 40,000 afs of books but now his sale declined to 2,000 afs.

He said after the closure of schools and tuitions the sale of books and stationary had stopped.

Muhajir Farahi, spokesperson of the Information and Cultural Affairs Ministry, said some steps had been taken in this regard.

He said work on the formation of a commission was underway as well in which the issue of getting inexpensive paper would be discussed.

Papers sellers, books seller and other relevant individuals would be part of the commission, he added.

Farahi said they planned to organized bookfairs and organized events through media which will help encourage people to study books.

It is pertinent to mention that study culture is not practiced in the country and most of youth kept distance from studying.

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