Urdu bazaar: The world of books

Dawn.com Published February 1, 2011
Educational and course books are the highest-selling items and their demand remain steady throughout the year
Educational and course books are the highest-selling items and their demand remain steady throughout the year
Interestingly, here people can purchase books and stationary at retail as well as wholesale prices.
Interestingly, here people can purchase books and stationary at retail as well as wholesale prices.
Non-educational books such as fiction as well as other items such as stationary are also sold here. According to Sajid Fazlee of Fazlee Book Super Market, Islamic and literary books are always in demand. In the past, people often went to libraries for new books but after the decline of libraries in the city, bookshops became popular.
Non-educational books such as fiction as well as other items such as stationary are also sold here. According to Sajid Fazlee of Fazlee Book Super Market, Islamic and literary books are always in demand. In the past, people often went to libraries for new books but after the decline of libraries in the city, bookshops became popular.
If sifted through carefully, customers can also find classics that are easily a couple of centuries old, and sometimes even a first-edition.
If sifted through carefully, customers can also find classics that are easily a couple of centuries old, and sometimes even a first-edition.
According to several people in the bazaar, people prefer to purchase and read religious books in Ramazan and Moharram.
According to several people in the bazaar, people prefer to purchase and read religious books in Ramazan and Moharram.
Many booksellers told this reporter that the publishing industry is flourishing in Lahore when compared to the slower pace in Karachi
Many booksellers told this reporter that the publishing industry is flourishing in Lahore when compared to the slower pace in Karachi
. In 1992, Urdu bazaar was destroyed by a bomb blast. It took about two years to rebuild the market.
. In 1992, Urdu bazaar was destroyed by a bomb blast. It took about two years to rebuild the market.
Mr Afzal of Qayyum Book Depot has inherited quite a legacy in this business. His grandfather, Sultan Hussain, published a book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah (pre-Partition) and was declared a traitor by the government. Hussain then moved to Pakistan and set-up shop in Urdu bazaar.
Mr Afzal of Qayyum Book Depot has inherited quite a legacy in this business. His grandfather, Sultan Hussain, published a book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah (pre-Partition) and was declared a traitor by the government. Hussain then moved to Pakistan and set-up shop in Urdu bazaar.
The works of Allama Iqbal, Ahmed Faraz, Ashfaque Ahmed and Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi are all-time best sellers.
The works of Allama Iqbal, Ahmed Faraz, Ashfaque Ahmed and Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi are all-time best sellers.
According to the head of the Urdu bazaar Market Association, Mr. Aslam, various other book markets have flourished in Karachi such as the Sir Syed Urdu bazaar in Nazimabad. But this particular one is still very popular because it provides a one-stop solution to all printing-related services. Even some of the stationary sellers who were located on Marriot road, have slowly shifted to Urdu bazaar over time.
According to the head of the Urdu bazaar Market Association, Mr. Aslam, various other book markets have flourished in Karachi such as the Sir Syed Urdu bazaar in Nazimabad. But this particular one is still very popular because it provides a one-stop solution to all printing-related services. Even some of the stationary sellers who were located on Marriot road, have slowly shifted to Urdu bazaar over time.

Located on M.A. Jinnah road, Urdu bazaar is one of the oldest book markets not just in Pakistan but in the entire subcontinent. Some business owners here are third- and fourth-generation immigrants from India, who began selling books in the area. Initially, it was a small market, comprising 10 to 15 small rustic stalls which were originally located at Mission Road at the time of Independence.

It was in the 1950s that the market shifted to its present-day location. The bazaar is a hub for all services related to printing and publishing, with wholesalers selling paper, stationary and other materials required in the publishing industry. Still present in this market are publishers who have been printing Islamic and books on religion for over 50 years.– (Photos by Hussain Afzal/White Star)

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Comments (17) Closed
Shehla
Feb 01, 2011 11:52am
Love this photo montage on Urdu Bazaar as much as the one on Bohri Bazaar. I suggest you guys check out the Lalookhet market next....wonderful areas of embroidery shops, clothing stores, household goods, vegetables, meats, etc...It's truly a labyrinth. Many years ago, I used to take some of my Western friends to see an authentic market...before there were shopping malls and such in Karachi, and Bohri Bazaar was considered fairly upscale,and Tariq Road had not developed as a shopping area.
Recommend 0
Rafey Sattar
Feb 01, 2011 11:56am
Awesome photographs, it's a wonderful feeling looking through these especially since I moved abroad a few years ago.
Recommend 0
muhammad mushtaq haj
Feb 01, 2011 12:50pm
Really loved the pictures of urdu bazzar,after refreshing the memories of bohri bazaar I used to visit the bazar when i was student than i visited the place,when my children became student,and expecting to visit the bazzar
Recommend 0
farooq butt
Feb 01, 2011 04:46pm
I REMEBER rushing to get new notes for my o and a level exam, what sheer memories when i was living in karachi, now the secuirty is so bad people say its nto safe to travel in that part of saddar...
Recommend 0
Javed
Feb 01, 2011 07:54pm
Nice pictures and good for nostalgia but they don't capture the essence of what is Urdu Bazar.
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lala dingding lala d
Feb 01, 2011 11:17pm
long ago urdu bazaar was only source for readers, attractive to big and little guys alike,very glad to see its pictures.
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A Khan
Feb 02, 2011 02:15am
I love book shops and I am compulsive book buyer. I never been to Urdu Bazaar but there are quite a few in Peshawar. They were fantastic a few years ago. Ever since I move to England I dont know what happened to them as I have no time to go back and check them. After seeing the bookshops in these picture reminds me of wonderfull days of my life in Peshawar, which are lost with time. Thanks for reminding me my beautiful memories.
Recommend 0
Fawad
Feb 02, 2011 02:30am
What a fabulous place for book lovers ... even rare books on Urdu adab/ literature and Islam that cannot be found on the web or elsewhere, are available at Urdu Bazaar :) .... timeless ....
Recommend 0
Shahryar Dar
Feb 02, 2011 07:10am
Twenty year ago, i used to go to Urdu bazar to buy college books. I have visited the place recently, and it has not changed much except more traffic.I used to buy papers from small KABARI(junkyard) shop, which were next to Lohari Gate mosque. They used to sell these papers by weight, and it was cheaper than buying new papers. These rough papers were good for mathematics exercises. Anyone remember that?
Recommend 0
Nafees
Feb 02, 2011 07:40am
What a wonderful collage of memories, photos and narrative! My compliments to you. However, when it comes to stationery, we wish to have the prices of stationery stationary, but stationery cannot be stationary!
Recommend 0
ALi
Feb 02, 2011 11:19am
Places like Urdu Bazar are our assets,espeically when the books reading is out of fashion in new miss directed generation.
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Mehdi Ali
Feb 02, 2011 12:29pm
Wonderful piece of snaps. It reminds me of my childhood and always catching a bus from Tower to Urdu Bazaar to buy the course books & poetry books. Really missing that time. I hope that government will do something like maintanance etc to reserve this place. Thumps up DAWN.COM & Hussain Azal :)
Recommend 0
Maaz
Feb 02, 2011 04:27pm
farooq butt sab, ap agar angrez hotay to ye acha lagta kehna k its not safe to travel there any more... being a pakistani i dont think any one should say that. Hum dernay walon main say nahe hain bhai jan!!! be brave!
Recommend 0
shoaib
Feb 02, 2011 05:34pm
i love this picture bcz its very beautiful capture the books .....!!!! and urdu bazaar is a very old bazaa....!!!
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James
Feb 02, 2011 09:04pm
The Urdu Bazar in Delhi has been in existence contionously since before1857 and Chawri Bazar-Nai Sarak in Delhi have also been around since forever.......similarly there are other book streets in countless towns in India.
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naila abdul latif
Feb 03, 2011 12:05am
I really love urdu bazar. When i was in Pakistan, i always used to find a way to get there as it was far from my house. It really felt that i was there.
Recommend 0
bilal
Feb 03, 2011 05:55pm
Nice photos. but description is not related to photos!
Recommend 0

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