Rabia Mustafa
Every year on 23 April, the global community observes World Book and Copyright Day, an initiative of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that celebrates the power of books and the importance of protecting intellectual creativity. Established in 1995, this day serves as a reminder that books are not merely sources of information; they are bridges connecting generations, cultures, and ideas across time and space. At its core, the day promotes a culture of reading and learning. Books enrich minds, expand perspectives, and enable dialogue between diverse societies. In a rapidly digitizing world, they remain one of the most accessible and powerful tools for education, imagination, and social transformation.
An equally important dimension of the day is its focus on copyright. By highlighting the protection of intellectual property, it acknowledges the rights of authors, publishers, and creators whose work contributes to cultural and educational development worldwide. Copyright ensures that creativity is rewarded and sustained, enabling the continued production of knowledge and art.
While the day celebrates reading globally, it also invites reflection on national realities. In Pakistan, the situation presents a troubling contrast. Surveys, including those by Gallup Pakistan, reveal that 3 out of 4 Pakistanis (75%) do not read books at all, while only about 9% qualify as passionate readers. This paints a plain picture of a society where the habit of reading, once central to intellectual and cultural life, is gradually fading.
Multiple factors contribute to this decline. Economic constraints are often cited as a primary reason; for many households, purchasing books is considered a luxury rather than a necessity. Reports in leading newspapers such as Dawn highlight that rising costs, limited access to quality libraries, and weak institutional support have discouraged reading culture. More concerning is the observation by experts that even within academic circles, personal libraries (such as a professor’s house) are diminishing, raising questions about the broader intellectual environment.
This decline can be seen in the weakening of Pakistan’s publishing sector. It is argued that there is a struggling and, in many ways, “dying” books and publishing industry, burdened by low demand, piracy, limited distribution networks, and minimal state support. Bookstores are shrinking, publishers face financial constraints, and literary production struggles to find sustainable audiences.
While Pakistan is grappling with a serious reading crisis, the issue of copyright protection remains a distant and often secondary concern. In a context where a significant majority of the population does not engage with books, the foundational culture that sustains authorship, publishing, and intellectual ownership is inherently weak. Copyright, by its very nature, presupposes an active ecosystem of readers, writers, and publishers, one in which creative work is valued, consumed, and commercially viable. However, when reading is not a widespread habit, and the demand for books is limited, concerns about protecting intellectual property struggle to gain urgency.
If we look at this through a simple law-and-development perspective, the picture becomes clearer. As explained in Law and Development: An Alternative Approach to Measure Human Development, the kinds of disputes people bring to courts often show how developed a society is. In more developed societies, people usually deal with issues such as rights, contracts, business matters, and intellectual property. In less developed settings, the focus is still largely on basic criminal issues and day-to-day survival disputes. In Pakistan, where reading is not yet a common habit and literary engagement is limited, courts rarely see cases about authorship or ownership of ideas. This suggests that copyright is not just weakly enforced; it has not fully developed as a legal and social concern. That does not mean it is unimportant; it simply shows that a more basic issue needs attention first. Without a strong reading culture and a vibrant intellectual environment, efforts to enforce copyright are likely to remain weak or overlooked. In simple terms, before we can protect ideas, we need a society that actively creates, reads, and values them.
Yet, amid this crisis, it is essential to recall the profound pleasures and transformative power of reading. Reading is not a passive activity; it sharpens critical thinking, nurtures empathy, and broadens horizons. It allows individuals to engage with ideas beyond their immediate environment and fosters creativity. The act of reading cultivates inner dialogue, an ability that is fundamental to both personal growth and democratic societies.
For Pakistan, reviving a reading culture is not merely a cultural aspiration; it is a developmental necessity. A society that reads is better equipped to innovate, to question, and to progress. Encouraging reading habits, strengthening libraries, supporting publishers, and integrating reading into educational and social frameworks can gradually reverse the decline. Without a culture of reading, the capacity to imagine, question, and innovate remains limited. Therefore, rebuilding reading habits in Pakistan is not simply about books; it is about enabling a society to think differently, generate new ideas, and actively participate in shaping its own future.
World Book and Copyright Day is therefore more than a symbolic observance; it is a call to action. It urges individuals, institutions, and governments to invest in reading, support libraries and authors, and ensure access to knowledge for all. In an age of information overload, the simple act of reading remains a powerful tool for critical thinking, empathy, and peacebuilding.
The writer is Director Research and Publications at SLD.
