Textbook prices in Pakistan have surged by 95% in a year, creating challenges for the low-income population already dealing with a 30% inflation rate.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan’s Inflation Monitor, textbook prices increased by 94.7% from November 2022. Publishers attribute this to the high cost of importing paper due to a significant rise in the dollar’s value.
The market is flooded with imported textbooks as private schools prefer them over domestically published ones.
With over 20 million children out of school, the inflated book prices could exacerbate the situation.
The report also highlights sharp increases in gas, wheat flour, rice, and sugar prices.
