The transformative power of stories needs no greater testimony than ordinary life itself, apart from what one finds in the recorded and shared history. Books, whether literature, academic, general or otherwise, have served to expand the imagination, inform people and perhaps, even entertain them. But this would be too narrow a scope if one were to define just how significant books, and hence the publishing industry, are for human thought and the collective progression of societies.

This week, we take a look at the publishing industry in Pakistan and the many challenges it faces. We hear from publishers their stories of the many difficulties that continue to challenge their industry as a whole, as well as from authors who now write in a world instantly connected through digital platforms. With the pandemic having made the digital aspect of the modern lives more pronounced, authors are also pushed into a new dynamic where they have to keep not just their individual digital personas but also their works alive and relevant on digital platforms.

Given that the publishing industry has always been an integral part of the socio-politico structures of a society, we also talk about the impact of regional politics on the book publishing and selling industry, and the continued non-availability of books published in our neighbouring India.

We also explore how the new-age of digital marketing for books has shaped up in the recent years and about the many challenges this brings for authors, readers and the oriented word.

This and more in our Special Report this week.