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The five-day Karachi World Book Fair (KWBF) 2025 is set to commence on Thursday, December 18th, at the Karachi Expo Centre, continuing its distinguished tradition as a paramount event for the promotion of literacy and intellectual curiosity in the region. Organized under the banner of the Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA), the fair is poised to become a significant regional center for knowledge, research, and cultural discourse.
This year’s edition confirms its status as the most prestigious literary event in Pakistan, drawing substantial international participation. In addition to 140 leading Pakistani publishers and booksellers, the fair will host 40 foreign exhibitors representing 17 countries, including Turkey, Singapore, China, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. These international participants will showcase representative academic, research, and literary works from their respective nations to the Pakistani audience.
The KWBF will be formally inaugurated by the Sindh Minister for Education, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, underscoring the event’s official and academic significance.
The scale of the event is impressive, featuring more than 325 stalls spread across Halls 1, 2, and 3 of the Expo Centre. Organizers anticipate an attendance of over 500,000 book enthusiasts throughout the five days. The fair will be open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Convener of the Karachi World Book Fair, Waqar Matin Khan, accompanied by PPBA Chairman Kamran Noorani, highlighted the importance of the international participation. Khan stated that the inclusion of publishers from numerous countries has cemented the KWBF’s position as Pakistan’s largest and most respected literary forum, serving not merely as an exhibition but as an effective medium for global cultural and civilizational dialogue.
Khan emphasized the fair’s role as a crucial networking platform, bringing together domestic and international publishers, booksellers, librarians, and institutional buyers under one roof. He noted that the event grants readers direct access to the best and often rare national and international quality books, while simultaneously providing a dedicated space for authors to meet publishers and introduce their newest creations.
PPBA Chairman Kamran Noorani further commented that this year’s KWBF is expected to be unique and memorable, placing special emphasis on professional cooperation and the exchange of expertise with other major international book fairs. The schedule is packed with literary events, including the launching and unveiling of books by renowned authors, specialized literary sessions, and intellectual dialogues.
Crucially, considerable efforts have been made to engage the next generation of readers. The program includes various educational and entertaining activities designed to foster creative skills and a connection to literature among children, such as drawing competitions, declamation contests, and mental aptitude quizzes.
The organizers present at the press conference, including Deputy Convener Syed Nasir, Vice Chairman Nadeem Mazhar, and others, unanimously hailed the Karachi World Book Fair as a historical stride toward advancing literature and knowledge in the country.
