Oxford University Press is a
department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the university’s objective
of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide,
with branches in almost 50 countries.
Oxford University Press Pakistan
(OUPP) celebrates 60 years of publishing this year, 2012. OUPP was established
in 1952 with a branch office in Karachi, the first overseas publishers in
Pakistan. Since then OUPP has been a success story in terms of expansion
throughout the country, including Dhaka (pre-19714) with the Head Office in Karachi,
Branch offices in Lahore and Islamabad, and offices and bookshops in all major
towns and cities. With steady growth in output and number of staff in the Head
Office, OUPP is housed today in custom-built premises in Korangi, comprising a
classic, five-floored structure clad I nyellow, Gizri stone, designed by the
Heritage architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz, to showcase Pakistan’s rich cultural
heritage. The premises also have a spacious, purpose-built warehouse. The
foundation of this building was laid in 1999 and the building was inaugurated
in 2005, although OUPP had moved into the new premises in early 2003.
In terms of publishing, OUPP
broadened the spectrum and diversity of its educational and general titles, and
set a record for itself in the Sixties with the Ahmad and Rehana English
language series that enjoyed country-wide popularity. Beginning with a modest
publishing plan that comprised mainly reprints and adaptations, OUPP today
publishes a fairly large number of original and well-researched school, higher
education, and academic titles per year. The academic and general publications
of OUPP are authenticated texts thatare authoritative sources of reference.
OUPP today is a symbol of high quality in both content and presentation of its
books. In 1997, OUPP published the Jubilee Series to celebrate fifty years of
Pakistan’s independence. The Jubilee Series boasted works by well known and
highly respected authors at home and abroad whose writings chronicled the
history, society, culture, and literature. Committed to the promotion of
education in Pakistan, OUPP has made good quality educational books accessible
for all levels. OUPP publishes a wide range of school books for all subjects
with focus on quality of text, excellent illustrations and user-friendly
layouts. Most of OUPP’s O level books, especially commissioned and kept in sync
with the latest O level syllabuses, are endorsed by the examining body. Almost
all titles in the school educational series are supported by Teaching Guides
that offer lesson by lesson explanation, answers to textbook questions and
lesson plans and worksheets. Another first from OUPP is the extension of
academic support to schools across the country by arranging Teacher Training
Workshops as per demand for selected series and titles. This guidance and
interaction with the workshop leaders and amongst themselves greatly
facilitates teachers in accessing resources, planning lessons, activities, and
assessments. Needless to say, OUPP Teacher Training Workshops are widely
welcomed by the users of OUPP’s school publications.
Another feather in the OUPP cap
are the bi-lingual dictionaries; OUPP made a mark for itself by commissioning
the renowned scholar and lexicographer, Shan ul Haq Haqqee to publish the
Oxford Urdu-English Dictionary based on the concise Oxford English Dictionary,
which hwas launched in 2003. Work is in process for the Oxford Urdu-English
Dictionary, which will be an equally valuable resource for scholars in
particular and readers in general. In keeping with this tradition, bi-lingual
dictionaries have been published in Sindhi as well as Pashtu, as well as
dictionaries for primary, secondary and tertiary levels. OUPP supports the
children’s reading programme through attractive and colourful supplementary
readers.
Moreover, OUPP has actively
promoted the reading habit through ongoing national book fairs, and was the
moving spirit behind the first ever Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) and
Children’s Literature Festival (CLF), which are now regular events on the readers’
calendars. These events are well attended – in fact, packed, as they feature
book launches, interviews, panel discussions and also a range of activities for
children that introduce and educate them to the charm of the printed word, as
well as engaging their interest. The Karachi Literature Festival not only
brings together national and international writers, scholars, reviewers in
interaction with the audiences, but has also dispelled fears about Pakistan in
terms of safety and security. The other two most effective initiatives for
promoting the reading culture and bringing books within reach of the readers
are the Oxford Mobile Bookshop for all levels and genres, and the Oxford Mobile
Library. The Mobile bookshop has travelled all over the country, from the
shores of Sindh to the heights of Swat with its treasures of knowledge. The
Mobile Library, OUPP’s latest venture, is a boon for readers in the absence of
public libraries. It is particularly advantageous for underprivileged areas as
it provides access to books at the readers’ doorstep.
OUPP has come a long way from
1952, no doubt, but the journey continues towards further success and
achievements.
To commemorate celebration of the 60 Years of Oxford University Press in Pakistan, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 15/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on December 15, 2012.
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