Books and School Costs Surge as New Academic Year Begins

As the new academic year begins, Urdu Bazaar and textbook markets across Pakistan are witnessing a heavy rush as students and parents flock to purchase books, stationery, and book-covering services.

Prices for protective book covers have increased significantly this year, adding to the growing financial pressure on families.

Book-covering services have also expanded beyond commercial shops, with women in residential areas increasingly offering part-time services from home to support household incomes.

Many homes now display informal signs advertising book-covering work, while others take on orders from nearby shops.

Currently, applying an X-ray plastic cover costs between Rs75 and Rs100 per book, while larger notebooks and registers cost Rs120 to Rs130.

A full set of school books can typically be covered within three to four hours.

Meanwhile, rising paper costs have pushed stationery prices higher across the board. A small notebook now costs around Rs150, a medium notebook Rs250, and premium versions up to Rs400.

Registers are priced at about Rs450, drawing books at Rs1,000, and practical copies range between Rs2,700 and Rs3,000.

School-related expenses have also increased sharply. Uniforms cost around Rs3,000, shoes range from Rs2,500 to Rs5,000, and school bags cost between Rs1,500 and Rs5,000, depending on quality.

Parents report that enrolling a single child now costs between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000, including admission fees, books, and basic school supplies.

Reports also indicate a 40% shortage of new textbooks in the market this year, further intensifying the burden on families.

Parents and citizens have expressed concern over rising education costs, arguing that increasing expenses are making quality education less accessible for low-income families.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Education Department has made it mandatory for students to submit B Forms during admissions for the 2026–27 academic session as part of a new Unique Student Identifier (USI) system.

The department has directed education authorities across districts to ensure compliance, including accurate entry of student data in the School Information System (SIS), covering both new and currently enrolled students.