The five-day literary festival features 325 stalls, exhibitors from 17 countries and strong audience participation
Women invade the fair, impatiently leafing through novels, fiction and bestsellers. From browsing to purchasing, the show gave them a space to celebrate their love of books. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express
KARACHI:
The Karachi World Book Fair 2025 kicked off on Friday with a dynamic start at the Exhibition Centre, transforming the venue into a bustling hub of literary excitement. Book lovers of all ages flocked to the show from the early hours, eager to explore the 325 booths packed with titles ranging from fiction and romance to science, business and children’s literature.
The event features 325 book stalls under one roof, with the participation of 40 foreign exhibitors from 17 countries, offering books on virtually every subject imaginable. Schools arrived with students in the morning, families arrived in the afternoon and in the evening a large number of young people and groups of friends filled the room.
Despite the digital and AI era, readers of all ages have been seen enthusiastically browsing and purchasing their favorite titles. Visitors said the importance of books remains intact, even in an age dominated by technology. Many stalls offered discounts ranging from 40 to 50 percent on children’s books, novels, fiction, textbooks, academic, literary and Islamic books, attracting steady crowds throughout the day.
The three rooms, decorated in white, blue, orange and other bright colors, were full on opening day. More than 140 leading Pakistani publishers and booksellers, along with international exhibitors, showcased bestsellers, children’s novels, romance, crime and thrillers, science, business, architecture, design, literature, Islamic studies, children’s stories and educational books. In the morning, school management accompanied the students to the fair, where the children were seen carefully exploring the educational and reading materials. Teachers guided students on the importance of reading and helped them choose books. In the afternoon, families arrived in large numbers, while in the evening there was a noticeable increase in the number of young visitors, colleagues and groups of friends. Many people not only flipped through books but also made purchases at discounted prices.
Elderly visitors said they wait for the book fair all year round to buy quality books at affordable rates. Young readers, especially students, showed a strong preference for novels, fiction, romances and bestsellers, while Islamic book stalls and children’s sections also remained crowded.
