Trends in Books Publication in Pakistan

1
Trends in Books Publication in Pakistan
Khawaja Mustafa Syed Attaullah Shah

• Trends in Books Publication in Pakistan.
• Abstract
• The study presents an analysis of trends in
  Books Publication in Pakistan during five years
  (2001-2005). The topic is important to know
• and understand intellectual output of Pakistani
  nation and recent trends in books authorship in
  the Country.
• Objectives
• 1) To know about authorship trends in books
  publication in Pakistan during the period 2001 to
  2005.
• 2) To know about strong and weak subject areas
  in authorship
• 3) To see if the books publishing is relevant
  to national academic, research and intellectual
  needs.
• Methodology The Pakistan National Bibliography
  published by the National Library of Pakistan for
  the survey period was analyzed to
• conduct this study.
• Scope To conduct a survey of Books Published in
  Pakistan during five years (2001-2005).
• Limitations The survey covers most of the books
  published during the period of review in English
  and Urdu Languages. However some of
• the titles might have missed if these
  titles were not included in the Pakistan National
  Bibliography. The study may not have covered
• a considerable number of titles in the
  local languages as this type of literature is
  published and distributed locally with a very
  limited
• number of copies and the author/s,
  publisher do not send their books to National
  Depository at the National Library of Pakistan
  thus
• not included in the Pakistan National
  Bibliography.

Faculty of Health Sciences Library

• Conclusion Total Books published from year 2001
  to 2005 were 6113.
• Strong areas in Authorship
• a) Books on Islam are the most favorite category
  of Pakistani authors (28.26).
• b) 23.86 books were published in the Literature
  Category is the second most favored category.
• c) The third major category is books on topics
  related to Pakistan 19.87.
• d) The fourth major category of authorship is
  History, including biographies and Travelogues
  10.74.
• Weak Areas in Authorship
• Science, Health Sciences, Engineering
  Technology all combined generated only 288 books
  out of 6113 i.e. 4.70
• of the total books published during the
  period. The more serious matter is that the books
  published in this category are mostly
• elementary, secondary or undergraduate
  level books, and not research level books.
• Social Sciences. Only 73 books 1.19 were
  published in this category, a lack of authors
  interest in social sciences such as
• Economics, Sociology, commerce, Law and
  Education is visible.
• c) There is a serious shortage of authorship in
  Humanities subjects, such as Philosophy,
  Psychology, Logic Ethics. 19 books 0.31.
• Writers are the thinkers and intelligentsia of a
  Nation. Our National trends in books authorship
  can be summed up as The Pakistani writers mind
• is mostly oriented towards religious penmanship
  with an inverted focus over deep rooted national
  ethos, culture and politics, along with a
  romantic
• awareness of tradition. The social and cultural
  conflicts in the society provide an outlet to
  writers sensitive minds to express their
  discontent in