19th KIBF Concludes with Record Attendance and Sales

The fair featured 330 stalls representing 40

institutions from 17 countries. Publishers offered

discounts of up to 70% on the final day

Staff Reporter

Karachi: The five-day 19th Karachi International Book Fair (KIBF) at Expo Karachi concluded successfully on Monday, drawing over 550,000 visitors, including students, scholars, and book enthusiasts from across Pakistan and abroad.

The fair featured 330 stalls representing 40 institutions from 17 countries. Publishers offered discounts of up to 70% on the final day, while the Turkish stall distributed free books, attracting a significant crowd.

Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori announced the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for Convener Waqar Mateen during the event. The fair also included book launches, author meet-and-greet sessions, and poetry recitals.

Record-Breaking Sales and Attendance

Publishers reported record-breaking sales, with several stalls running out of stock. Visitors expressed enthusiasm for more book fairs in Karachi and other Sindh cities. Convener Waqar Mateen noted that this year’s event surpassed all previous attendance records.

Cultural and Literary Highlights

The fair saw a variety of cultural and literary activities, including the launch of 11 new books, such as senior journalist and poet AH Khanzada’s “Ishq-e-Aqeeda.” Convener Waqar Mateen announced plans to expand future fairs with cultural programs, poetry sessions, and author dialogues.

Notable Figures in Attendance

The fair was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, with Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, and Arts Council Pakistan President Ahmed Shah also present. Other attendees included:

• Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori
• Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui
• Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi
• Renowned writers and poets Fatima Hassan and Sahar Ansari
• Diplomats, school representatives, and notable figures from literary, academic, social, and religious sectors

Facilities and Security

Private banks provided on-site ATM services for visitors, while strict security arrangements ensured a safe environment. The event showcased a wide array of books, including novels, travelogues, children’s stories, comics, and textbooks.

Calls for Expanding Book Fairs

Visitors urged organizers to hold the event biannually and extend it to other cities in Sindh. The Pakistan Publishers and Booksellers Association expressed gratitude to the attendees for their overwhelming participation, which they said demonstrated a strong love for books in the community.

The 19th KIBF, held from December 12 to 16, reinforced Karachi’s reputation as a vibrant literary hub, offering hope for future growth in Pakistan’s reading culture.