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Book Publishing in Pakistan
The once-declining literacy culture in Pakistan is slowly regaining its popularity, with young readers, in particular, showing a strong interest in a diverse range of literary genres. This shift is boosting the need for locally produced content and opening new doors for aspiring authors to publish their books in Pakistan.
But when it comes to publishing, many first-time writers find the process confusing and challenging. From technical requirements and legal formalities to understanding publishing routes and finding the right agents, the journey can feel overwhelming.
So, how can someone make this publishing process easier and more manageable?
That’s exactly what this guide is about. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to publish a book in Pakistan.
Key Stages in the Book Publishing Process
Regardless of the publishing route, most books go through a similar set of core stages before reaching readers:
Manuscript completion
Editing & formatting
Cover design
ISBN & registration
Printing or ebook publishing
Distribution & sales
These stages transform a manuscript into a professionally published book that is ready for both readers and the market.
Types of Publishing Pathways
When it comes to publishing a book in Pakistan, authors generally choose between two main publishing pathways. Each option comes with its own advantages and limitations, and it depends on writers to understand which route best aligns with their needs.
Traditional publishing
Self publishing
Let’s discuss each of these in detail.
Traditional Publishing
In Pakistan, the traditional publishing industry works differently compared to Western markets. Instead of going through a literary agent, authors usually approach publishers directly to submit their work or use local publishing services.
For authors aiming to take the traditional publishing route, these steps can help simplify the process.
Prepare a Professional Manuscript
Before approaching any traditional publisher in Pakistan make sure you have gone through the following steps.
Finalize your manuscript with thorough editing
Know your target audience and where your book fits (Urdu, English, regional language, academic vs. commercial)
For first-time authors, having a clear understanding of what publishers are actually looking for is especially important. Traditional publishers in Pakistan typically focus on Urdu poetry, novels, romance, and religious literature. Submissions outside these genres are rarely considered.
Research Local Publishers
Since literary agents are rare in Pakistan, most writers submit their work directly to publishers. Most of these publishers are located in Urdu Bazaar and require in-person visits as they often lack proper websites or an organized digital submission process.
Some active traditional publishers include:
Sang-e-Meel Publications
Ferozsons Publishers
Oxford University Press Pakistan
Pro tip: Before contacting a publisher, take the time to review their previously published books. This will give you a clear idea of their print quality, layout, and cover design. You can also reach out to authors they have worked with, as their experiences can provide helpful details about the publisher and whether they truly align with your needs.
Manuscript Submission
The process of showing your work to a publisher can vary from one publishing house to another. Some publishers may ask to review the complete manuscript, particularly if they show genuine interest in your work. In other cases, they may request sample chapters to assess your writing style and overall concept before deciding whether to review the full manuscript.
A few publishers may prefer an oral discussion of your idea, similar to a pitch, and will only ask for the written material if your concept captures their interest.
Wait and Follow Up
Traditional publishing requires patience. Responses can be slow, decisions are highly selective, and contracts may take months to finalize. For new authors, acceptance is uncertain, as many publishers hesitate to invest in debut writers and rejections are common.
Pro tip: For debut authors, a recommendation from well-known, traditionally published authors can increase credibility and the likelihood of acceptance.
Publishing Contract
If a publisher accepts your manuscript, ideally the contract should include the rights the publisher holds, royalty percentages, and responsibilities related to production, distribution, and marketing.
However, in Pakistan’s traditional publishing system, contracts may sometimes be less formal unless the author specifically requests one. For this reason, authors are strongly advised to insist on a written agreement that clearly outlines key terms, including:
What rights are they granting?
How much royalty will they receive?
How long will the rights be held?
What the publisher must do for production and marketing?
Because this is a major step, take time to understand each clause. If needed, take legal or editorial advice about rights and royalties.
Editing, Production & ISBN Registration
After signing the contract, the publisher typically handles editing, design, printing, and distribution. Your book will be assigned an ISBN through Pakistan’s official ISBN agency and then released to the market for sale. From the time the contract is finalized to the book’s official release, the entire process can take 18 to 24 months.
Pros of Traditional Publishing
No upfront costs
Once the publisher accepts the manuscript, they invest in all the process of publishing to marketing and promotion, and the author doesn’t have to break his bank for his book.
The publisher takes all the risk
Since the author does not invest in the book and the traditional publishing company covers the production costs, the publisher bears the financial loss if the book does not sell.
Access to Professional Publishing Services
The publisher handles all essential services, such as design and formatting, to ensure the book is polished and market-ready. This allows authors to focus on their writing without worrying about finding the right designers or managing additional services.
Very likely to land in bookstores
Publishing houses have individual teams for this task. This involves their sales teams pitching the book to retailers and using major wholesalers to manage logistics, a process that self-published authors find nearly impossible to replicate on their own.
Cons of traditional publishing
It takes too long to publish
Publishing houses deal with a large number of submissions, plus the editing takes multiple rounds to make sure the book gets up to mark. The whole publishing process with other coordinated works with sales and marketing teams, can take up to 18-24 months.
Difficulty in finding a publisher
It is very difficult to find an agent or a publisher due to the limited number of publishers and their selective interest in the potential books and genres.
No creative control
Authors have no creative control over their books and their own work is edited, formatted and is designed according to the standards of the publisher, in order to make it more marketable.
Low royalties rates
Since the publisher covers the costs of editing, printing, and distribution, the share of royalties that goes to the author is very limited. This low earning potential, combined with infrequent payment schedules, can significantly affect an author’s financial stability and long-term career sustainability.
Self Publishing
In self-publishing, the author publishes their work independently and has complete control over everything, from editing, formatting to marketing, and promotion.
Following are the guiding steps for new writers on how to publish a book on their own in Pakistan
Self Editing
After completion of the manuscript, go through a rigorous process of self editing your manuscript. It will include grammar check, correct usage of words, consistent tone, spelling mistakes etc.
You can also use AI editing tools for basic editing and feedback, but don’t rely on them completely, as human evaluation and careful attention are still essential.
Professional editing
Once the initial phase of editing gets completed, it is crucial to hire professional editors to make the manuscript according to the professional standards and for the quality of the manuscript.
Authors can find editors through book clubs and literary meetups. One of the easiest and most effective ways is to collaborate with a university professor who teaches language or literature, as their guidance can be very helpful.
Alternatively, you can also hire professional, vetted editors from platforms like Daastan, who can help polish your manuscript to a high standard.
Beta readers
The next step is to gather feedback from trusted readers, known as beta readers, to add an additional layer of review before finalizing the manuscript.
Cover design & Interior formatting
Once editing and proofreading are complete, the next step is typesetting and layout design. You can use online templates based on your book’s genre, create your own layout in Word, or even ask an AI tool for suggestions by providing your book’s details and genre; it can recommend fonts, styles, and sizes.
Some authors also purchase pre-made layout templates from platforms like Etsy. Whatever method you choose, make sure the fonts and styles are printer-compatible to avoid having to redo your work
ISBN & Copyright registration
In Pakistan, ISBN numbers are free of cost. You need to register as a publisher with the ISBN Office Pakistan and then apply for ISBNs for your ebook or print version.
Once you have your ISBN, you’ll also need a barcode for your book, which is required for sales and inventory tracking in bookstores.
If your work has commercial value, it is important to apply for copyright protection through the Copyrights Office Pakistan.
Publish and distribute
Most Pakistani authors self-publish their work on Amazon KDP or use Draft2Digital for global distribution. Currently, there is no credible self-publishing platform within Pakistan with proper technology, editorial support, or digital presence, many options are just small printing press websites.
Qissa stands out as Pakistan’s only platform where you can publish your book, sell it, and earn royalties.
For authors on a budget, a practical approach is to publish on Amazon KDP, use the print-ready files with a local printer for small batches (40–50 copies), and promote your book via social media.
Launch and market
Promote your book through author platforms, social media, and email marketing. It is very important to have an author brand to build a loyal reader base and connect directly with your target readers.
Self Publishing platforms in Pakistan
International
Amazon KDP
IngramSpark
Draft2Digital
Local
TWS
Reverie Publishers
These local publishing platforms also provides hybrid publishing services that we will discuss in detail in the next section.
Advantages of Self Publishing
Complete creative control
Self publishing gives the author a complete creative control over their work, that includes, the type of editing their book deserves, book format, book’s cover and interior design etc. Authors independently decide each and every step of their book publishing journey.
Faster Publishing Process
Self publishing takes a lot less time than traditional publishing. Through traditional publishing the book can take up to 18-24 months to reach the market place while in self publishing the entire process and reaching the market place can be completed within weeks.
Higher royalty payments
Authors that publish traditionally generally receive a lot less percentage in book royalties, depending on whether the book is a paperback, hardcover, or an ebook. Self-published ebooks can earn between 60-70% in royalties. Printed books can earn up to 50% when sold directly to readers.
Build credibility
Self publishing builds credibility and increases the personal connection of the author with its target audience. It helps in building a loyal readerbase.
Disadvantages of self publishing
Upfront costs
From editing and designing to handling legal paperwork, the author has to manage it all by themselves.
Less likely to land in bookstores
Marketing and promotion is author’s responsibility
The hybrid publishing model
The hybrid publishing model combines elements of both traditional publishing and self publishing, and it is a popular option for authors who want professional support without giving up full creative control. Following are the features of hybrid publishing model
Access to professional services
In this model, authors usually retain ownership of their work and rights, while gaining access to professional publishing services such as editing, design, ISBN registration, and distribution.
Full creative control
Unlike traditional publishing, decisions related to the book’s content, cover design, layout, and pricing often remain with the author.
Flexibility & Budget friendly
One of the defining features of hybrid publishing is flexibility. Authors can choose only the services they need rather than committing to a fixed publishing package. This allows writers, especially first-time authors to publish their books at a pace and budget that suits them.
Time efficient
This model generally offers a more predictable and faster publishing process compared to traditional routes, as it does not rely on long approval cycles.
Overall, hybrid publishing serves as a middle ground for authors who value creative freedom but also want expert assistance throughout the publishing journey.
ISBN and Copyright Registration
What is an ISBN?
An ISBN is a 13 digit International Standard Book Number. It is an essential product identifier used by publishers, booksellers, and other supply chain participants. It identifies the registrant as well as the specific title, edition and format.
ISBN is used for
Ordering
Listing
Sales
Records and stock control purposes
Each format of a book needs its own unique ISBN. For example, an ebook version and a paperback version of the same title will need their own unique ISBNs.
Why ISBN is important ?
An ISBN uniquely identifies a book worldwide, making it easy to sell, distribute, and catalogue across bookstores and libraries.
It also adds professional credibility and ensures accurate tracking of different book formats.
Who should apply for ISBN?
It is always the publisher of the book who should apply for the ISBN. It can be an organisation, company or an author of the book if the author has chosen to publish their book themselves.
To get an ISBN in Pakistan as a self-publisher, you can apply through the National Library of Pakistan (NLP) by submitting their ISBN registration form.
Copyright Registration in Pakistan
Copyright registration in Pakistan gives authors official legal proof that they own their work and makes it easier to take action if someone uses it without permission.
To register their work, authors can visit the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan to obtain the application form and all the necessary information regarding copyright.
Once registered, the work is officially recognized as the author’s legal property. It will protect their work so that they can share it legally and earn from it with confidence.
Common Publishing Mistakes
When authors choose the self-publishing route, they often unknowingly make these common mistakes that can hold their book back and negatively affect its success and long-term sales potential.
Ignoring Professional Editing
Weak editing is widely considered as one of the biggest publishing mistakes. Many first time authors do not understand the importance of professional editing and they rely on self editing or peer reviews to cut down their publishing expense. But they fail to consider the long-term impact of a poorly edited book. A poorly edited book reflects negatively on the author’s professionalism and can severely impact reader perception, reviews, and long-term sales potential.
Poor Cover Design
A book cover is the first thing that catches a reader’s attention and immediately shapes their expectations about the book. When a cover is designed by someone without professional book-design experience, it often misses key elements such as genre clarity, typography, and visual balance.
A poorly designed cover can significantly reduce a book’s perceived value and market appeal. In contrast, investing in professional cover design can have a major impact on reader interest, credibility and long-term sales.
Improper Book Formatting
Many authors underestimate how complex proper book formatting can be and try to handle it themselves using basic software, which often results in an unprofessional and hard-to-read book. Professional formatting involves much more than simple layout; it ensures the book works smoothly across both print and e-book formats. A well-formatted book looks polished, reads comfortably, and maintains consistency across all platforms.
Underestimating Marketing and Promotion
A lot of authors feel uncomfortable marketing their own books or believe it falls outside their expertise. They often assume that pouring their heart and hard work into writing is enough to make their book succeed.
However, in today’s crowded market, this belief can hold even the best books back.No matter how powerful the story or how valuable the content is, readers won’t discover it unless it’s actively promoted. This is why marketing is no longer optional, it’s a necessity.
Effective book marketing ensures that your work reaches the right readers at the right time. It helps build awareness and interest in your title and gives your book a fair chance to stand out among the competition.
Overlooking copyright and legalities
It is imperative for authors to understand the importance of copyright and the legal aspects related to their work. Although copyright exists automatically upon the creation of an original piece, proving ownership and enforcing your rights can be far more challenging without formal registration. In cases of plagiarism, unauthorized use, or legal disputes, registered copyright acts as strong and reliable evidence of ownership.
In addition, it is also very important to understand the scope of copyright protection. It enables authors to make informed decisions about their content. It also helps to prevent unintentional infringement of others’ rights.
Incorrect pricing
Incorrect book pricing can quietly undermine an otherwise well-written book. Pricing a book too low, especially in genres like business, self-help, and personal development can damage its perceived value and credibility. Readers often associate price with quality, and a very low price may signal that the content lacks depth or authority.
On the other hand, pricing a book higher than the competitive market range can push potential readers away, causing the book to struggle with sales even if everything else has been done right.
To avoid this problem authors should always consider their genre, target audience, and market standards before setting the price of their book to make sure that it stays within a competitive and acceptable range for readers.
Why the Right Publishing Partner Matters
Due to the scarcity of traditional publishing platforms, the time they take, and their selective acceptance criteria, many authors, especially first-time writers, often choose the self-publishing route.
However, when authors decide to self-publish, particularly those new to the publishing world, having the guidance and support of publishing professionals becomes essential.
The right publishing partner can simplify the process, provide professional support, and help authors to avoid publishing mistakes that can affect their book’s market value. This level of professional support is most often provided through the hybrid publishing model.
One example of this publishing approach can be seen in Daastan Publishing, which combines professional publishing services with author involvement at key creative stages.
Some key benefits of having the right publishing partner are outlined here:
Technology-Enabled Publishing Process
These models use online platforms that simplify registration, manuscript submission, and progress tracking.
Mera Qissa is Daastan’s online publishing platform that lets writers register, upload manuscripts, and track every stage of the publishing process through a single, centralized dashboard. It makes the experience more structured and transparent.
Professional Publishing Services
Access to professional services is another factor authors often consider when selecting a publishing partner. These services help ensure that the final book meets industry standards
Hybrid publishing models like Daastan offer a wide range of professional services that leave authors with creative control while all the heavy work is handled by professionals.
The services include:
Editing
Translation
Formatting and cover design
ISBN registration
Printing
Marketing and promotional support
Book Registration & Copyright
Book registration and copyright protection are crucial steps that many new authors aren’t familiar with. Hybrid publishing platforms can guide authors through these legal formalities with the relevant government authorities, so their book is legally registered and protected.
Digital and Print Publishing Options
Platforms like Mera Qissa support both digital and print publishing. Once a manuscript is published, readers can access the book as an e-book or order physical copies. Managing both formats through a single system can save time and reduce complexity for authors handling multi-format publications.
Case Study: A First-Time Author Publishing a Socially Sensitive Book in Pakistan
Background
This case study is about the experience of a first-time author entering Pakistan’s literary world with a socially and politically sensitive book titled You, the Witness, focused on Palestine. Like many debut authors, the writer had the passion to tell an important story but lacked experience with the technical and emotional realities of publishing.
The Challenge
The author faced several common challenges that many first-time writers encounter:
No prior experience with the publishing process
Uncertainty about choosing the right publishing house
A need for step-by-step guidance rather than just printing services
As the author themselves expressed:
“As a first-time author, you quickly realize that taking the first step into the literary world requires more than courage, it demands guidance.”
The Publishing Process
The author chose to publish with Daastan Publishing, where the experience went beyond basic publishing tasks. Instead of simply overseeing production, the publisher provided continuous guidance throughout the process, and helped the author on each stage with clarity and confidence.
Describing this support, the author noted:
“Sir Omer did not merely oversee the process. He walked beside me, guiding me through every small step, nurturing my confidence until I felt ready to share my voice with the world.”
This approach highlights the role of personalized mentorship, an element often missing in transactional publishing models.
Outcome
Successful publication of the author’s debut book
Increased confidence as a published writer
A guided and reassuring publishing experience
A strong sense of trust in the publishing partnership
While sharing on the overall journey, the author said:
“Daastan does more than publish books; they foster authors. They provide thoughtful, personalized counsel designed to help you reach your unique goals, and they remain with you, steadfastly, until those goals are realized”
Key Takeaway for Authors in Pakistan
This case study shows that for authors, especially those writing on sensitive or meaningful subjects, choosing the right publishing house can significantly shape the publishing experience. It highlights the value of working with a publisher that supports not only the manuscript, but also the writer behind it.
Conclusion
The publishing process is one of the most crucial and defining stages in the journey of creating a successful book. By understanding Pakistan’s publishing landscape, the available publishing pathways, and common mistakes to avoid, writers can confidently move from an initial idea to a professionally printed book. Each publishing pathway comes with its own pros and cons, and it is up to authors to choose the option that best aligns with their goals, budget, and requirements.
This detailed guide covered every important aspect of how to publish a book, with a special focus on the publishing process in Pakistan. It will help authors to make the right decision at every step of their publishing journey.
So, let’s transform your written manuscript into a well-polished book and turn your dream of getting published into reality. And if you ever feel stuck at any stage of the process, Daastan is always there to support authors and guide them throughout their publishing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I send a book to a publisher?
To send a book to a publisher, prepare a professionally edited manuscript, a strong synopsis, and sample chapters. In Pakistan, authors usually submit directly to publishers by following their submission guidelines via email or physical copies.
2. How to publish a book on Amazon Kindle?
You can publish your book on Amazon Kindle using Amazon KDP. Create an account, upload your manuscript and cover, set pricing, and choose distribution options. Once approved, your book becomes available worldwide as an eBook.
3. How much does it cost to publish a book?
The cost of publishing a book varies by route. Traditional publishers usually do not charge authors, as they invest in the book themselves.
Self-publishing and hybrid publishing costs depend on editing, design, ISBN, printing, and marketing services.
Get your Book publishing Cost or email at merasawal@daastan.com
4. How to publish a book and get paid?
Authors earn money through royalties when their book sells. Self-published authors typically receive higher royalty percentages, while traditional publishers offer lower royalties but handle production and distribution.
5. How much do publishers charge to publish a book?
Traditional publishers usually do not charge authors, as they invest in the book themselves. Hybrid publishers may charge for professional services while allowing authors to retain rights and creative control.
