Daastan Services

*Page Updated: 22nd March 2022

Publishing is a hassle and each manuscript has different needs. Daastan gives you the flexibility to customize your publishing the way you want. You have more control over your work and how you want to bring it in market. A manuscript undergoes following steps before it is ready to be published

  • Soft form of manuscript i.e. it needs to be composed on computer (Typing)
  • Fixing the basic structure, plot and grammar issues (Editing)
  • Optimizing file for print publishing (Formatting)
  • Book cover designing
  • Book registration and legalities (paperwork filing with govt. bodies)
  • Printing costs

You can save lot of costs by learning how to do most of the things yourself. However, the book registration fee is compulsory as it is enables us to legally protect your work. 

 

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OPTIONAL SERVICES


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Editing Services

Are you unsure whether you should add the comma after a particular clause? Do you always forget to capitalise the first sentence after a full stop? Do you find it difficult to spot a dangling modifier? If the answer to all these questions is a yes, don't worry because Daastan has got your back.

Word Count Basic Editing* Advanced Editing**
less than 5000 words Rs. 2,000 Rs. 4,000
5,000 - 10,000  Rs. 5,000 Rs. 10,000
10,000 - 20,000 Rs. 15,000 Rs. 30,000
20,000 - 40,000 Rs. 25,000 Rs. 40,000
greater than 40,000 Rs. 30,000 Rs. 50,000

*Basic Editing: This includes the correction of grammatical, punctuation, and spelling mistakes along with the suggestions for improving sentence structures. This type of editing will lead to both print and e-publication. There is one free revision and one mentorship session by the editor for the author. 

**Advanced Editing: This includes the detailed input of the editor in terms of suggestions, addition and deletion of scenes, along with character descriptions. There are three free revisions and limited mentoring sessions for the author. 

 

Translation Services

 

Service type/Page range

001-150 pages

150-300 pages

300+ pages

Basic

850 PKR/page

800 PKR/page

750 PKR/page

Secondary

950 PKR/page

900 PKR/page

850 PKR/page

Advance

1,050 PKR/page

1,000 PKR/page

950 PKR/page

Revision Policy: Author can request upto three (01) revision for free. Further changes to the files will be charged at 1000 PKR per hour

 

 

Design Services

Basic Book Cover Design* Pro Book Cover Design**
10,000 PKR 15,000 PKR
 

Professional Social Media Page Branding

Basic Pro Pro Plus
Logo + Page Cover Logo + Page Cover + Author Poster Logo + Page Cover + Author Poster + Quotes Poster
10,000 PKR 15,000 PKR 20,000 PKR
 
 
Other than this, we do provide customized services like illustrations, book mark design etc. Pricing varies, please email us your requirements at merasawal [at] daastan [dot] com
 

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COMPULSORY SERVICES


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Book Registration Cost

Digital Book Print Book
2000 PKR 4000 PKR

 

Print-Ready File Creation

The last step before the file goes in print is to ensure that it is in the right format. Slight negligence in this may ruin the entire batch of hard copies. The file once approved by the author can not be changed or recalled from the printing. 

Either your manuscript is in soft form (i.e. already typed) or in hand written notes format, we accept both versions. Prices for print ready file creation are as follows.

Service type/Page range

001-150 pages

150-300 pages

300-500 pages

Already typed files

50 PKR/page

40 PKR/page

30 PKR/page

Hand written notes

120 PKR/page

110 PKR/page

100 PKR/page

 

Revision Policy: Author can request upto three (03) revisions for free. Further changes to the files will be charged at 1000 PKR per hour

Printing Cost

Print cost depends on various factors which are listed below
  • Size of book
  • Page quality 
  • Type of binding
  • Print type
  • Volume
  • Total Pages
Understanding book sizes:
Books can be printed in customized or industry standard sizes. Usually, we go by 5x8 size as standard size. Bigger sizes are 6x9, 9x9 and A4 to name a few. Book size also depends on the nature of the manuscript. For example, novels are printed on 5x8 size, text books are usually A4 and children story books are 9x9.
 
Understanding page quality:
Page quality means thickness or weight of page. Normally, standard pages 60 GSM (low), 70 GSM (medium) and 80 GSM (high). Some authors opt for creme paper (highest quality). It is quite expensive. Normally, all novels and books are published using these qualities.
 
However, if your work is photo-oriented like a travelogue or photography collection where you need high colored images then usually art paper is used. It is relatively more expensive than normal paper print quality. Whereas, the books for small children are printed on thick card. We usually discuss these requirements one-on-one before quoting a final price.
 
Understanding binding:
There are three qualities of binding.
  • Paperbacks
  • Hard covers
Paperbacks which are less than 60 pages (PDF) usually have pin binding. It is relatively cheap whereas in case the manuscript has 100 pages or more, we opt for hot glue binding which is also called perfect bound.
 
Hardcovers come in two qualities. Simple hard covers (normal) and hard covers with dust jackets (high quality). Urdu authors or english authors who  usually opt for hard cover books. Hardcovers binding is possible for books which have more than 100 pages.
 
Understanding print type:
Print type means that is your manuscript in black n white print or colored illustrations? For small volumes i.e. 24, 50, 100 and 200 copies, we opt for digital printing which is a bit expensive as compared to traditional printing. If you add one colored page then it's Rs. 20 per page per copy. If your manuscript is in full color then ideally it is printed on art paper and rates vary. Please email us your book details so we can offer you an estimate.
 
Understanding volume:
Genrally in market, all the printers do high volume printing i.e. 500 copies or more. Average investment needed is 100,000 PKR or more. However, for new authors who are just starting their writing careers, it is not hard to arrange and invest that much money. If anyone says otherwise, please don't listen to them. A new author should first build their readership then opt for high volume printing. A simple explanation is as follows which can help you decide what is better for you. Still if you are confused then drop us a message, we would be happy to advise.
 
Volume Purpose Audience Readership
Low Personal New authors No or limited
High Commercial Established authors High 
 
The below charges refer to the minimum lot of 5x8 sized books with black and white interior pages on good quality paper.
 
PIN BINDING (50 paged book)
 
For The Lot Of: Pricing Formula Cost 
30 books Rs. 7.00 per page 10,500 PKR
50 books Rs. 6.75 per page 16,875 PKR
 
HOT GLUE BINDING (100 paged book)
 
For The Lot Of: Pricing Formula Cost 
50 books Rs. 5.50 per page 27,500 PKR
100 books Rs. 5.25 per page 52,500 PKR
 
HARD COVER BINDING (normal) (100 paged book)
 
For The Lot Of: Pricing Formula Cost 
50 books Rs. 6.50 per page 32,500 PKR
100 books Rs. 6.00 per page 60,000 PKR
 
HARD COVER BINDING (with dust jacket) (100 paged book)
 
For The Lot Of: Pricing Formula Cost 
50 books Rs. 7.0 per page 35,000 PKR
100 books Rs. 6.0 per page 60,000 PKR
 
On-demand discounts are available on need-basis. If you have purchased club membership then your members get 10% DISCOUNT on all services listed here. The above mentioned rates are est. rates. If your manuscript has more pages, we can offer you a more competitive rate.
 
For higher volume printing i.e. 500 copies or more, pricing varies. Please inquire at merasawal [at] daastan [dot] com
 

Satisfaction Guaranteed:

If you don't get the quality of service what's promised, you get your money back. No questions asked. Daastan is the leading publishing company which is setting the quality standards and bringing transparency and efficieny in the publishing space. We strive to meet the customer's expectations and provide the highest quality through our team of professionals.

 

COLLECTIBLES

 

Authors and publishers can avail cool collectibles in bulk through Daastan. If you are a crazy bookmark collector, a literary club or an author looking to delight the readers then you can get super cool bookmarks printed and delivered at your doorstep.

 

Quantity 100  250  500 1000
Price 1000 PKR 1500 PKR 2500 PKR 3000 PKR

 

We provide free shipping at your doorstep. Order turn around time is 7-10 days. Bookmarks will be single side full color on card paper.