The culture of reading in Afghanistan has been steadily declining due to a slew of factors, such as decades of conflicts, widespread poverty, and soaring unemployment.

KABUL, April 24 (Xinhua) -- As the world marked World Book and Copyright Day on Wednesday, bookstores in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, were grappling with an unprecedented downturn in business, driven by a noticeable decline in book lovers and reading enthusiasts.

The culture of reading in Afghanistan has been steadily declining due to a slew of factors. Decades of conflict, widespread poverty, and soaring unemployment have severely impacted the book industry and eroded the country's reading culture.

Sulaiman Shah, who has worked as a sales representative at one of Kabul's oldest bookstores for over 16 years, has witnessed a sharp drop in public interest in books compared to previous years.

"Our book sales used to be quite strong," Shah told Xinhua, standing beside shelves stacked with an array of titles. "But unfortunately, our current sales have plummeted to just 10 percent of what they once were."

Founded in 1974 and located in the heart of Kabul, the bookstore is home to a meticulously arranged collection of more than 20,000 books in multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Polish, French, Urdu, and Arabic.

The topics span history, medicine, science, culture, politics, economics, and children's literature, some of which date back over 300 years. There are even books that specifically introduce China's economic growth.

"Books are treasured around the world," 39-year-old Shah said. "But sadly, that same appreciation is not reflected here in Afghanistan."

Zahor Chopan, another employee at the store, shared his frustration with the dwindling number of visitors. He believed that the lack of reading enthusiasm among the younger generation is largely due to the country's ongoing economic hardships.

"There are very few people interested in books these days," said Chopan. "People from low-income backgrounds may want to read, but they simply can't afford to buy books."

In a bid to revive reading habits and promote literary culture, the Afghan interim government has organized various indoor and outdoor book exhibitions. These initiatives aim to encourage reading across the nation, especially in communities hardest hit by poverty.

Despite the relatively low prices of books, many Afghans are still unable to make purchases due to financial constraints, Chopan explained.

When asked about the impact of social media and the internet on the decline in book reading, he replied, "No. Books still have their own loyal followers."

Esmatullah Rahimy, a visitor at a bookstore in Kabul's western district, told Xinhua that people just aren't willing to spend money on books right now.

Rahimy noted that in addition to economic hardships, the rise of social media has further distracted young people from engaging with books, dealing a blow to the nation's already fragile reading culture.

For centuries, books have sparked imaginations and opened doors to real and fictional worlds alike. Yet in Afghanistan, reading is far from a priority.

For many, daily survival takes precedence over the luxury of literature, they are more concerned with securing their next meal than turning the pages of a book.