National Book Foundation was established in 1972 as a service rendering educational welfare organization. It is a statutory Corporation created through an Act of the Parliament in order to make books available at moderate prices. It has its Head Office in Islamabad and Regional Offices at each provincial Headquarters. In addition it has Branch Offices and bookshops. Its management and over all control vests in a Board of Governors. The Federal Education Minister is Chairman of the Board of Governors. The Chief Executive of the organization is the Managing Director.

BOOK PROMOTION & PROMOTION OF READING HABIT

• Book Clubs: Book reading once used to be a favourite pastime. People took great pleasure in reading and discussing books. Unfortunately, this golden tradition is now dying. To address this problem, NBF has taken initiative to launch a series of innovative projects including the formation of Village Book Clubs, City Book Clubs, Children's Book Clubs, Prisoners' Free Minds Book Clubs, Senior Citizens Book Clubs, Travellers' Book Clubs (Books on Wheels), Flying Book Clubs and Hospital Book Clubs.
   

• Book Ambassadors: NBF has come up with another novel idea to appoint book loving celebrities of the country as Book Ambassadors to play their role in promoting book reading habit. This prestigious appointment would be an honorary position. The book ambassadors would use the honour, respect and influence they enjoy in society to nurture the love of books and promote reading habit in society.

   

• Readers Clubs: It is the most popular development scheme in Pakistan. Under this scheme books are provided to members at 50% discount for promotion of reading habit at 47 important cities. The rest of the half is paid by the NBF. Books can be obtained on 55% discount from NBF Bookshops under this scheme.
   

• Donation of Pakistani Books Abroad: The aim is to improve Pakistan’s image and introduce Pakistani culture abroad through books. Books are sent to Pakistani Missions abroad and Pakistani chairs in foreign universities.
   

• Promotion of Children Literature: Printed copies of the selected manuscripts and books for children are purchased for free distribution to school libraries all over the country. Cash awards are given to the authors of the best books.
   

• Presidential Award on the Best Written Children Books on Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and Pakistan: Award is given to the author of best children book on the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, National Poet, Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Pakistan annually.
   

• Books for Children and Neo-literates: The scheme envisages development of suitable manuscripts and publishing of good quality supplementary reading material for children.
   

• Braille Press: Braille books are provided to the visually disabled persons, almost free of cost. The braille books include Holy Quran with Urdu translation which is one of its kind in the world, Bang-e-Dara, Bal-e-Jabriel alongwith over 108 other publications of national importance.