Regional Publishing Trends
In the region covered by the Islamabad office, the forces that limit the free flow of information and exchange of ideas are overwhelming. Print publishing and other media face daily challenges in the form of (a) overt government censorship and the less insidious, but no less harmful, self-censorship; (b) poor infrastructure from the absence of high speed internet connections to lack of distribution networks that include good book kiosks or stores; (c) restricted educational access which limits reading and scholarship to an elite sector of society; (d) poor copyright enforcement and other practices that limit the profitability of writing and publishing; (e) political turmoil and security issues that continue to plague most of the region; and (f) multiplicity of languages limiting the growth of any single-language publisher; and (g) poverty which erodes the foundations of a society. None of the countries surveyed has adequate access to the international book market.
In spite of the many roadblocks to a vibrant publishing and media sector, the region produces many excellent high quality titles across the disciplines. The intellectual communities in the region work against odds to produce new titles in history, the social sciences, and the visual arts.
AFGHANISTAN
A new comprehensive study of the media, Afghan Media in 2010, provides an in-depth analysis of media and publishing in Afghanistan. The study can be found at: http://www.altaiconsulting.com/docs/media/ The information below offers insights from the trenches, by someone who works in the media and helps identify new materials for the Library of Congress.
As in the past, Afghanistan publication output continued to increase. It is highly competitive, volatile market. Each of Afghanistan’s twenty-four provinces produces unique publications in their local languages that reflect the conditions of that area. In most cases, these publications are published in the main city of the province. Kabul is the largest center of publishing, but Nangarhar, Heart, Kandhar, Balkh, and Khost are important centers producing unique information. The absence of any infrastructure that helps to distribute books across the country limits sales; few titles are available outside of Kabul.
Although few media outlets, especially print publishers are able to turn a profit, Afghanistan continues to see an explosion of small publishing houses. In Kabul alone there are more than hundred newspapers (daily, weekly, monthly) and more than hundred magazines (weekly, monthly, quarterly). In Afghanistan the main problem is that magazines or newspapers cease publication because of financial problems. In 2010 the following titles closed: Safina, Kangra, Faker, Rasti, and Shorai – e- Mutahid. Usually these publications do not make much or any profit, so they are subsidized for various reasons. This year saw significant increase in books published in Pashto and Dari; for the most part these are small chapbook-sized poetry books.
Government publishing remains the most active sector in part due to outside funding which supports information dissemination. Most publishers admit that without some form of subsidies they cannot afford to publish. The ministries and other governmental administrative units receive external funding support to produce a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annuals that address topics and activities. Even with outside financial support, most government serials are highly irregular and very difficult to obtain.
In addition to outside support for local publishing, many neighboring countries publish in Afghanistan. It is estimated that Iran may have produces as many as fifty to seventy titles. In order to save high printing costs, many publishers cross the border to Peshawar or other Pakistan border towns. It is estimated that approximately sixty percent of all items available in Kabul are printed in Peshawar and about ten percent come from presses in Iran.
Outside of government publishing, the largest publishing sector, there are titles produced by:
1- NGOs and International Governmental Organizations Publication
2- Self-publication
3- Commercial publication
4- Political Parties publication
5- Educational center publication
Important new titles in 2010:
1- Miawand Bank
2- Barg
3- Kabul Hindarah
4- Dukhtar Afghan
5- Nigah zan
6- Nibars
7- People magazine and etc
Although quality standards vary greatly, for the most part the quality of publications is not high. As a result, prices remain fairly reasonable -- in Kabul a softcover book of 100 pages costs about 100 Afghani.
Like authors throughout the reason, the reward of writing is seeing one’s name in print. There is little money to be made by an author especially when many will fund their own publications. The joy is to have their books appear in the bazaar and the possibility of becoming famous.
IRAN
It is difficult to assess the true state of publishing because the government inflates publishing statistics by incorporating school textbooks into overall academic and trade publishing. Those in publishing and bookselling point to continued decline due to continued inflation and high costs of paper. Independent book and journal publishers must purchase their paper and ink in the market. Government censorship as well as self-censorship on the part of publishers and writers no doubt contributes to the decline.
After the June 2009 disputed presidential election, many independent serials and newspapers shuttered their doors. Those few independent periodical publishers who managed to continue their work face many restrictions and threats from different state agencies. Even those that are not harassed, face severe budget shortfalls and financial problems that force them to increase their sale price. Import restrictions on many of the products took their toll on publishers. This year saw average price of a monograph increase by twenty-five percent.
Unlike those in the private sector, periodical published by government or those who support the President receive considerable financial aid. It is not unusual for government supported presses to receive direct funds or subsidies from the government.
The toll is much greater than increased costs, many independent publishers in Iran who professionally works in the different fields of Iranian Studies have had to drop the number of their publications. Writers are effectively silenced when booklists are cut.
Knowledge becomes restricted when publishers cut their print runs to save money. Printed copies of Iranian studies titles have dropped from 1000-1500 per title to 500-1000 per title. As a result, important scholarly titles are quickly out-of-print. A black market has arisen that provide this quick-to-go-out of print titles at great expense limiting access to important scholarship.
If the current political and economical situation persists rather than deteriorates, then it is not unlikely that we should see at least 30% price increase in Iranian book and periodical market over the next year.
In attached table I have drawn out all the figures from governmental reports and websites, and unfortunately they do not represent the real publishing situation of periodicals and monographs in Iran, 2010.
The figures include text books, supplementary and study aid materials. They also include all those foreign language monographs that are originally published outside of the country and are illegally reprinted in Iran. I should mention that these materials are playing a major hidden role in announced statistics by the governmental resources.
Table books supplementary study (PDF, 28 KB)
PAKISTAN
Although it may take years to evaluate publishing trends in other countries of the world, it takes hardly a year to witness the changing trends in Pakistan. Every day Pakistan, witnesses a rapidly changing political and socio-cultural environment; it should surprise no one that these changes affect the knowledge sector. The high inflation rate and daily increase in the prices during last two years have brought the publishing output down to its lowest in recent memory
A number of factors contribute to the decline in scholarly output including, but not limited to, inflation and the high cost of books and journals, continued low literacy rates, and ongoing conflicts that restrict movement of researchers and their ideas.
If inflation and high costs mean fewer sweets and leaner meals, it is not surprising that it also means there are no extra rupees for books or magazines. Readers cannot afford books when their stomachs are empty. It is difficult to measure the cost of books in rupees because the Library of Congress tracks library material costs in dollars. For the Library of Congress and participants, the cost increase for books and journals is less than that of inflation. As a result, library materials from Pakistan cost less than they did xyz years ago.
Although Pakistan has stepped up its public education efforts, the ongoing conflict and the strong hold of madrassa education in rural areas restricts access to education keeping basic literacy rates low. With literacy rates estimated at fifty percent (or lower), the actual reading public is much smaller. Of this small reading public, religious titles and popular fiction continue to dominate the market.
A noticeable persistent trend is the influx of religious books with no scholarship or even scholarly intent. Radical organizations are eager to distribute titles written under pseudonyms or and by unknown “scholars” who have clear polemical intentions. These books are available at very low prices and often are distributed free of cost as the cost of publishing is born by the “caretaker sources” of these organizations. These books are mostly used at madarassas where majority of students go as the boarding and lodging is free.
Fiction manages to survive if not thrive as witnessed by the quantity of novels by new writers writing titles with no literary merit; these popular romance and fantasy titles provide easy escape from harsh realities of the Pakistan today.
A new category of colorful titles is more visible at the bookshops – cooking books. The reason for the recent influx of these books is the introduction of several TV channels dedicated only to cooking programs; the channels then publish books containing the recipes of all the dishes they prepare in their telecasts. These are proving to be very popular with viewers who gobble up the next new title.
In our conversations with staff at libraries, including the National Library, there was a sense of discouragement at the decline in scholarly output. Oxford University Press in Karachi represents the larger dilemma faced by publishers. This year OUP Karachi produced one of its smallest new title lists ever citing drops in local sales; fortunately OUP has excellent resources to promote international sales so are able to continue to publish scholarship.
Librarians express hope that improvements initiated by the Higher Education Commission will result in improvements to scholarly publishing. In the midst of ongoing political conflict, bombings, and floods, it is noteworthy that Pakistan continues to produce important titles of high quality. The political memoir, popular in months proceeding an election, have fallen out of favor with few noteworthy new titles by or about the political leaders of Pakistan. Although important, new titles of political journalism and history appear to have leveled off.
The continued decline in scholarly book and journal output concerns all, but the creative forces in Pakistan culture remain alive, expressed in its vibrant musical traditions that continue to defy religious radicals who would silence the voices, flutes, and drums of its musicians.
Different musical trends have been adopted by Pakistani music players, which have changed the typical form of Pakistani music. Pakistani singers and composers thrive on borrowing from all traditions and today’s artists work to invent new combinations borrowing from Pakistani traditional music, rap music, rock music, and other international sounds.
In the traditional music of Pakistan, Ghazal gaieki and Qawali remains very popular indeed there is increasing international recognition of these traditions. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan introduced world to Qawali that was infused with new sounds; his new kind of fusion music borrowed sounds from Sufi and other traditions including those of western music.
Pakistani folk music traditions remain vibrant expressing the cultures found throughout Pakistan. Many great recognizable names of folk music are from Pakistan – Arif Lohar the great Punjabi folk singer; Reshma, Punjabi and Sarieki Folk singer, Pathane Khan, Mai Bhagi, Allan Faqeer, Shazia Khushk, etc.
Today’s youth thrive on the beats that mix Bhangra, rock, jazz and several other kinds of hip hop music are the part of Pakistani. Top most names of Pakistani pop music includes: Ali Azmat, Hadiqa kayani, Atif Aslam, Ali zafar, Strings, Roxen-e-deewar.
Coke Studio is a Pakistani television series featuring live music performances. The program focuses on the diverse musical influences in Pakistan, including eastern classical, folk, and contemporary popular music. The show provides a platform for renowned as well as upcoming and less mainstream artist who come together to collaborate musically in live studio recording sessions. Coke Studio has been popular, receiving critical acclaim and frequently being rebroadcast on television and radio in Pakistan.
Pakistan Television (PTV) has long been recognized in producing excellent tele-dramas. These dramas were influential and famous all over the world. With the establishment of new private television channels, there has been an explosion of tele-dramas. The popularity of these dramas derives from their ability to address Pakistan’s social issues that might otherwise be taboo topics; the tele-drama Wanni has addressed the issue of forced marriage as a means of settling tribal disputes. Private TV channels use their distance from government to produce humorous TV shows on the political condition in Pakistan satirizing the various characters in Pakistan politics.
TAJIKISTAN
This is the first review of Tajikistan publishing. Although Tajikistan’s small population may limit publishing, its high literacy rates (at over 90%) along should encourage print-medium publishing. Although the government supports the major publishing sector, there are new private sector publishers offering mostly literary titles.
The strong presence of the government in the information sector goes beyond influence. The governments primary publishing imprints are Adib, Irfon, Maorif va Farhang and CIEMT (the National Tajik Encyclopedia). This year they published 126 books mostly on literature and history with several memoirs of veterans of 2nd World War. There are now plans for a yearbook of publishers that should prove useful in future surveys.
The central government recently demonstrated its interest and strength when two popular weekly newspapers, Farazj and Nigoh were closed. Although the government stated the problem as one of printing presses, many attributed the shuttering of their doors to these papers independent attitude and approach to social issues. The government backed papers Jumhuriiat and Sadoi mardum continue to publish; these are widely distributed through official government organizations.
2010 was not a productive year for in publishing. All sectors – government and non-governmental, academic and private publishing organizations in Tajikistan faced severe financial problems which were exacerbated by underlying political and social malaise. Academic Publishers continue to produce academic serials regularly, but monographs and other collected papers declined.
Without official financial assistance, the private sector continues to struggle to make a profit. These small printer-publishers accommodate the orders of booksellers and individual Tajik-language authors. Most of these titles fall into belles-lettres, reprints of historical, and historical religious literature such as the works of Gazali, Abu Hanifa, Shibli Numani, and Ahmad Donish.
NGOs and other international organizations continue their activities primarily in social sciences and cultural studies of Tajikistan life – labor migrants are a recent focus of interest. They regularly publish their results in different, but are difficult to track.
Last Updated: January 26, 2011