Booksellers concerned about lack of book markets

KABUL (TOLOnews): Bookstore owners and publishing houses said that they have lost fifty percent of their customers in more than two years. The officials of these publishing houses and bookstores emphasized that currently the market for their sales has decreased and they are facing economic challenges. “We have been working in book sales, publishing, and distribution for about 18 years. Currently, the economic situation of the people has the greatest impact on the book sales,” said Zaki Ahmadi, head of a publishing house. “Business used to be very good, now it is not, now it is very diminished. Our economy is very damaged,” said Azizullah, a bookseller. According to the Publishers Union in Kabul, about 180 publishers, 550 bookstores and 150 printing presses are operating in the country, which are currently facing economic challenges. Abdul Wadood Mukhtarzada, the head of the Publishers Union in Kabul, said that they are working in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Culture to establish a commission to address the problems of publishers and booksellers. “The Administrative Office created a commission in the Ministry of Information and Culture through the Prime Minister’s Office. In support of the publishers, the commission has made efforts to categorize the publisher’s problems,” said Abdul Wadood Mukhtarzada. Meanwhile, students said economic problems are one of the factors that weaken the culture of reading and buying books. “Student interest in book reading culture is not good these days,” said Eman Haidari, a student. some publishing houses and bookstores have complained about economic problems and the decrease in their sales.