ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman Iftikhar Arif said here on Thursday that with the rise in literacy in the country the publishing trade was branching out in all directions and more publishers were trying to explore new markets among Urdu and regional language readers.

He made the remark at a ceremony held to introduce four books published by the PAL on the 59th Independence Day of Pakistan - Pakistani Adab-2004 (bibliography), Pakistani Adab-2004 (prose), Pakistani Adab-2004 (poetry) and Balochi Zaban aur Adab-Aik Jaiza.

Last year, 1,257 books were published in Urdu, Balochi, Brahvi, Hindko, Punjabi, Pushto, Seraiki and Sindhi languages and another 44 in English language.

Mr Arif said PAL had been publishing a yearly catalogue of books published in the country since 1990. Sayeed Durrani brought out the latest in the series, complete with indices on authors and publishers. Putting indices at the end of the book has become a science and that science was being gradually adopted in Pakistan.

He said he intended to move ahead in putting international ISBN indicators at the back of Pakistani books.

The tradition helps the book trade to order titles and helps foreign academies, institutions and research bodies to consult and purchase Pakistani literature and also helps Pakistanis living outside the country to learn more about Pakistani literature.

The PAL chief took special pleasure in referring to the book — Balochi Zaban aur Adab-Aik Jaiza — (A survey of Balochi language and literature) which has been included by Allama Iqbal Open University as a textbook in its Pakistani literature department.

Balochi literature needed such patronage, he said, observing that Sindhi books had a ready market because of the language’s abundant appeal. The Balochi Zaban aur Adab — Aik Jaiza, edited by Prof Ghaus Baksh Sabir is an anthology of best writings in the language.

About the anthologies, the PAL chairman said noted literary experts involved in preparing them discovered new writers.

Dr Tauseef Tabassum and Prof Ihsan Akbar jointly selected an anthology of Urdu poetry which include 112 Ghazals, 1 Hamd, 2 Naats and 63 Nazams.

Dr Saleem Akhtar compiled the anthology of best prose works in diverse branches of criticism, research papers, modernism, abstract knowledge, critical works on Ghalib, Iqbal, memoirs, philosophy, the arts, fiction and translation of literary works in foreign languages.

Mr Arif said books influence the cultural and political life of a nation and as such he had tried over the years to present an acceptable selection of poetry, fiction and non- fiction, memoirs and history at affordable prices.