Composing
We set your manuscript into a clean, print-ready book, in English or Urdu.
Daastan is a one stop shop
for all publishing needs
Experience hassle-free customized book publishing solutions from the comfort of your home.
Editing
We find and fix errors in manuscripts, you can't see.
Designing
Book covers, illustrations or posters. We do it all.
Registration
Your own ISBN, registered to you, so the book is properly yours.
Printing
Multiple options and print runs which fit your budget.
Distribution
Your book on our store, with an author page built to be found.
With Daastan, I was able to publish my children story book on sexual and reproductive health in Pakistan. To date, we have sold over 3000 copies and counting. The team comprises of competent, professional and passionate people.
I highly recommend aspiring authors to start their book publishing journey with Daastan.
Ashhad Qureshi
Child Rights Activist
For authors
Turn your manuscript into
Turn your manuscript into
a book
people can actually buy
Hassle-free Book Editing, Book Cover Design, Book Registration, Book Printing, Global Book Distribution, all at one place.
International standards. Made in Pakistan.
Your book is edited, designed, typeset and registered to the same standard a London or New York house works to — by people who read Urdu and English, in your time zone, at Pakistani cost. Nothing about it should look local except the story.
- A real editor, not a spellchecker
- Covers designed for a shelf and a thumbnail
- Typeset to press specification
- Your own ISBN, registered to you
The only publisher here that built its own technology.
Every other publisher in Pakistan runs on spreadsheets and WhatsApp. We built Qissa: one platform carrying your manuscript from review to press to sale, with your readers, your sales and your royalties on a dashboard you can open at 2am. That is the difference between a printer and a publisher.
- Sales and readers, live
- A royalty ledger you can audit
- Global payments, paid into your account
- Your work protected, not just uploaded
A launchpad, not a print shop.
Anyone can hand you a box of books. We give your work somewhere to land: an author page of your own, a book page built to be found, and a bookstore that already has readers on it. This is for authors who intend to be taken seriously.
- An author page of your own — no domain to buy, nothing to maintain
- Book pages built for Google
- A free sample readers open instantly
- Sold worldwide, in your currency
See what your book would cost
If we do not deliver the quality we promised, you get your money back. No questions asked.
Takes about thirty seconds. No sign-up to see the price.
Publishing calculator
What will it cost to publish your book?
Move the sliders and see a real price — no forms, no waiting for a call back. We have assumed a typical first book to start you off.
Pages in your finished PDF, not word count.
People you know will actually buy a copy. Be honest — it decides
how many we print, and unsold books help nobody.
Your package covers 50. Anything above that is
quoted separately below, so you can see the rate before deciding.
If you do, you only need printing from us.
Charged per page, per copy — it adds up fast on an illustrated book.
Working it out…
Estimates, not invoices — but they are the real rates we quote from. Anything unusual we price with you on a call.
Where should we send this quote?
Fill in whichever you prefer — we need at least one to reach you.
We use this to send your quote and follow up once. Nothing else.
The author's road
Nobody sells a thousand copies first
Every working author you can name started at fifty. What separates them is not talent on day one — it is knowing which number they are chasing next.
-
50
You announce yourself
The book is real. In hands, on shelves, in photographs. Fifty copies is how a writer stops saying "I am working on something".
-
100
Strangers start buying
The second fifty is the hard fifty — your friends already have theirs. Clearing it means the book is selling on its own merits, not on goodwill.
-
200
You are an emerging author
Two hundred readers is a following. Bookshops take your calls, festivals answer your emails, and your name starts arriving before you do.
-
400
You have a community
Four hundred people chose your book with their own money. That is not a launch any more, it is a readership — and a readership buys the next one too.
-
1,000
You have a career
A thousand copies is a working author. Your second book begins with an audience instead of a hope, which is the only real shortcut in this trade.
So what does each rung actually pay?
Every number above has a rupee figure behind it, and it changes with the price you set. The royalty calculator shows you both — including the runs that lose money, because those are the ones worth knowing about first.
How to Get Published
See the price
1
Create Account
Sign up and send us your manuscript — typed or handwritten, in Urdu or English. We read it properly and come back with an editorial review and a sample edit, so you can see how your book will be handled before anything else happens.
2
Create Book
We edit and proofread it, design your cover, and typeset the interior into a print-ready file. You see and approve the cover and the proof — nothing moves forward until you are happy with it.
3
Publish Book
We register your ISBN with the government, print and ship your copies, and put your book on the store with its own page and its own buy link. That link is the one you send to anyone who asks where to get it.
4
Market Book
Your author page, your free sample, search listings and quote features all keep working for you after launch. Sales and earnings show up in your dashboard, and you get paid on what sells.
Royalty calculator
What do you earn on every copy?
You keep 70% of the profit on every sale, and on print your production cost comes back to you first. Move the sliders — these are the same numbers your royalty statement is worked out from.
Pages in your finished PDF. Length sets your print cost, and print
cost sets the lowest price that can work.
Print
cost Start
here
cost Start
here
Your package includes the e-book edition free. It costs nothing to
produce and never runs out, so every sale is pure margin.
E-books and printed copies together. We split it
3 e-books to every printed copy, which is what we see in
practice. Starts at 50 — below that, a book is not
ready to be published.
You earn
—
vs
Your package costs
—
Working it out…
You set your own price. We approve it only against the floor below — a book cannot be listed for less than it costs to print.
Daastan Community
Our authors, in their own words and in the press.
Review
Six Murders In Seattle by Ekam Singh and Leyla Younas - Daastan
Six Murders in Seattle is a marvel of these superbly talented writers. In this book, they narrate a full suspense story about six back-to-back murders in a city called Seattle, and when the crime department could not able to handle this same pattern of murders, they asked for the officer, whose reputation is worse than criminals, as a last try to solve this mystery of murders.
Review
ناتمام قصے از نرمین سرھیو - Daastan
ہر کتاب کا ایک خانہ ادھورا ہوتا ہے اور اس ادھورے کونے کو قاری اپنے تصور کے رنگوں سے بھر دیتا ہے۔ بہت سی باتیں ان کہی رہ جاتی ہیں مگر سننے والا ان ان کہے الفاظ کا بھی مفہوم اخذ کرلیتا ہے اور اسی طرح بہت سی کہانیاں نامکمل ہوتی ہیں مگر دیکھنے والے کی نگاہ اسے مکمل کر دیتی ہے۔یہ کتاب ناتمام قصوں اور کہانیاں کا گھر ہے اور انھیں مکمل کرنے کا اختیار قاری کا تصور محفوظ رکھتا ہے۔
Interview
Nidal Hammad: “The Last Minute” Story of Passion with Daastan
Nidal Hammad’s The Last Minute, a football novel and story of passion, pressure, and perseverance published by Daastan
Interview
Dialogue With Diary: Bisma Jatoi’s Journey with Daastan
In this interview, Bisma Jatoi, a CSS officer and writer, shares her passion for writing and her experience publishing with Daastan.
Review
آخری سانس تک ازمحمد جہانگیر بدر - Daastan
”یہ ڈھاکہ کالج کے قریب ایک پُرہجوم بازار تھا۔یہاں ضروریاتِ زندگی کی تمام چیزیں دستیاب تھیں۔یہ ہر طبقے کے لوگوں کی خریداری کے لیے سب سے مشہورجگہ تھی۔ایک بہت اچھی مارکیٹ تھی جہاں زیورات، بیگ، کپڑے، اسٹیشنری کی اشیاء، بیڈ شیٹس اور تکیے وغیرہ ملتے تھے۔“
Review
جبرِ مسلسل ازمحمد جہانگیر بدر - Daastan
ہر ناامید اور مایوس شخص کو اچھے دنوں کے آنے کی امید دلاتی یہ کتاب بلاشبہ اپنی نوعیت میں منفرد ہے۔ بُرا وقت ہمیشہ آزمائش بن کر آتا ہے اور ہر آزمائش انسان کو منزل سے ایک قدم اور قریب کر دیتی ہے۔
Interview
Waqas Abdullah's Thought-Provoking With Daastan
Read Waqas Abdullah's story behind Colonial Words, his journey, inspiration, and bold views on language and global power in detail
Review
Palestinian Poetry About Struggle: Stories of Resilience - Daastan
Discover the power of Palestinian Poetry a voice of struggle, resilience, and compassion in You, The Witness by Meem Ayien.
Review
زندگی اک گلدستۂگلاب از ماہیؔ شاہین - Daastan
زیرِ نظر کتاب ماہی شاہین ؔ کاشعری مجموعہ ہے جس میں انھوں نے اپنی خوبصورت شاعری کو پیش کیا ہے۔ ان کے اشعار میں ایک تسلسل اور خوبصورتی دکھائی دیتی ہےجو پڑھنے والے بھلی معلوم ہے۔جیسے یہ اشعار ملاحظہ فرمائیں
Are you ready to get started?
644 dreams of book publishing turned into reality and counting
Dr. Shahzad Ali
Consultant Pathologist
Their coordination is very humble and relaxing. The quality of work really impressed me and I would highly recommend Daastan to writers and all who are linked with art or writing.See the original post
Tayyab Khalil
Mechanical Engineer
Their solid commitment to facilitate emerging writers in Pakistan is worth every ounce of praise. Immensely happy and grateful to have my first book published through this commendable publisher that is truly one-of-a-kind in the country.See the original post
Wajeeha Tabish
Software Engineer
Earlier Pakistani writers could only dream of getting published. Now it is easier with the more than supportive team of Daastan which is now more of a family to me. Amazing experience publishing my first book with Daastan.See the original post
Masooma Memon
Published Author
An excellent publishing house with a team of cheerful people that is ever ready to help emerging writers for the love of literature. Wish you success to infinity and beyond!See the original post
Obien Mayo
Published Author
A good online approach, where I could hand over my data without the fear that it would be stolen. A safe and secure platform.See the original post
Hamza Khaskheli
The Forsaken
In a world of fleeting promises, Dastaan Publications delivered unwavering reliability. Led by Syed Umar, they transformed The Forsaken from mere words into a polished masterpiece. The costs were fair, the process precise, and the experience nothing short of transformative. Dastaan didn’t just publish a book—they gave The Forsaken its voice. For that, they deserve every star.Read the review
Syeda Khair ul Bariyah
Peregrination of the Soul
Publishing my book Peregrination of the Soul with Daastan Publishers was a thoroughly positive and professionally managed experience. From the initial editing phase to the final publication, the coordination remained clear, timely, and supportive. The editorial team handled the manuscript with sensitivity and care. Communication throughout the process was consistent and reassuring. Overall, the entire publishing journey was smooth, well-organized, and stress-free.Read the review
nawa sohail
Published author
I had an amazing experience working with Daastan. In our country, publishing opportunities are limited, especially for writers who are just starting their journey. Not knowing where to go, how publishing works, or what steps to take can be intimidating. Daastan has taken a beautiful step in helping writers turn their dreams into reality. Holding your own book in your hands and seeing it on bookstore shelves is something truly special.Read the review
Neshmeeya Abbas
Behind the Veil of Vigilance
Thank you so much to Daastan Publishing for their amazing work in publishing both of my books. I am so grateful to have been able to work with such a creative, flexible, and kind team at Daastan. Publishing these two books has been a massive milestone and accomplishment in my life, and I am incredibly thankful to Daastan for the opportunity to work with them.Read the review
Haroon Awan
Published author
As a first-time author venturing into the literary world with both excitement and hesitation, I could not have found a better publishing partner than Daastan. The team was unwaveringly supportive, responsive, and professional, guiding me with care and insight through every step of the publishing process. Readers consistently comment on the exceptional standard of printing and presentation. The books look and feel beautiful in the hand.Read the review
Mehdikhan Leghari
DGeneration
The Daastan team’s commitment, professionalism, and genuine passion for literature truly breathed life into this project. From the initial manuscript evaluation to the meticulous final production steps, they proved to be an essential collaborator. Their detailed editorial insight, constructive feedback, and constant encouragement empowered me to sharpen my vision and finalize a novel that I am exceptionally proud of.Read the review
Naghma Ali
DUST
Thank you so much Daastan for making me a published author in 2023, making my 40,000 words worth publishing and helping me complete the project which was very sacred and personal to me — my grief journey after the passing of my adorable daughter. Thank you Omer for making DUST worth publishing.Read the review
Ready when you are
Work out what your book would cost, see what it would earn, then talk to us. No forms before you have a number.
Who you will be working with
The people behind Daastan
A small team, which is why we only take 30 authors a month.
Syed O. Amer
FounderA visionary carrying a literary legacy who hustles all day to disrupt the writing industry
Hafsa Idrees
Co-founderA quad-lingual anthropologist who passionately paints and occasionally does radio shows
Sidra Amin
Co-founderA community builder and fairy godmother of mentorship who knows the art of storytelling
Before you ask
Questions authors ask us
What size will my book be?
5" x 8" is the standard and suits most novels. A5 and 5.5" x 8.5" are the other options on a short run, and 6" x 9" opens up on a press run. Textbooks are usually larger and children's books often square, so those we quote after a conversation.
What does 80gsm paper mean?
GSM is the weight of the paper. 60gsm is thin, 70gsm is middling and 80gsm is the good stuff — that is what we quote on, in imported cream or white. Cream is easier on the eye for long reading; white looks crisper.
Paperback or hardcover?
Paperback suits most books and is what we anchor on. Hardcover needs at least 100 pages to bind properly and is common for Urdu titles and gift editions. Very short books are pin-bound instead of glued.
Why is colour so much more expensive?
A colour page costs many times a black and white one to print, and it is charged per page of your PDF per copy — so a fully illustrated book multiplies quickly. A few colour plates is usually the sensible middle ground.
How many copies should I print?
Fewer than you think, at first. The honest test is how many readers you already have who will actually buy it. Build the readership, then print at volume — printing 1,000 copies before you have buyers just fills a room with boxes.
What is the difference between digital and press printing?
Short runs are printed digitally: quick, no setup, slightly dearer per copy. Once you are printing 500 or more it goes to press, where the per-page cost drops and 6" x 9" becomes available.
Do I need an ISBN?
Yes, if you want the book sold and legally protected. We file the paperwork with the government for you; it normally takes about a week. An ISBN is included in every one of our packages.
What if my manuscript is handwritten?
That is fine — we accept handwritten and typed manuscripts, in Urdu or English. Handwritten work needs composing first, so tell us at the call and we will price it in.
What is a print-ready file?
A PDF laid out exactly as it will be printed — correct trim size, margins, page numbers and fonts embedded. If you already have one and a finished cover, you only need printing from us. If not, it is part of the package.
Still not sure? Get a price first — it takes thirty seconds and costs nothing.
See what your book would costMemorable moments
Dreams come true at Daastan. A book launch, a festival, a first copy handed to someone who matters — we have been the reason a few people decided not to quit.
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