An impressive turnout, as we come to expect at Pakistan’s book fairs, but the books vs technology dichotomy seems sadly still to prevail.
The Punjab University (PU) Book Fair 2025, held in Lahore, concluded this weekend.
Although the final count has not yet been announced, we know that the first two days of the fair saw 95,000 books sold, and with the last day reported to be busy, we can safely assume the final tally will be well over 100,000, and may have broken the record 145,000 books sold in the fair’s 2024 incarnation.
Expected turnout was 300,000 visitors, but no confirmation on that as yet.
Inaugural Ceremony
The event was inaugurated by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat Khan, who emphasised the significance of books in achieving success and restoring book culture and highlighted highlighted the support of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in ensuring access to higher education for all.
Highlights and Participation
Publishers from across the country set up 110 stalls at the fair, and clearly met a receptive audience, but was accompanied by the usual commentary about how books are somehow surviving in the age of technology despite the distraction of digital.
Read more from Business Recorder here and here.
Images from the fair can be found in the PU press releases here and here.
The View From The Beach
An impressive turnout, as we come to expect at Pakistan’s book fairs, but the books vs technology dichotomy seems sadly still to prevail.
While estimates vary, all sources agree there are upwards of 110 million people online in Pakistan in 2025 (one report suggests 140 million), so it is painful to see the usual twaddle about how books are competing with the internet, instead of embracing digital a a way to reach and engage more readers.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsletter.
