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Timeline: A pictorial journey through the years

1950s

1951

  • W.F. Jeffrey moves to Karachi from Bombay to set up the OUP branch in Pakistan.


1952

  • OUPP starts its operations in Pakistan from a single room in the Hotel Metropole, where W.F. Jeffrey has also taken up his residence.

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Date set for closing down OUPP

1956

  • Date set for closing down OUPP
  • 1st February, Philip Chester takes charge, Branch is to be kept operational, and Lahore office is closed down
  • John Rendall takes charge of OUPP

1960s

1961

  • The Pakistan Government reorganizes its syllabi in primary and secondary schools and chooses Oxford books, adopted by local authors for teaching English throughout the country.

The Pakistan Government reorganizes its syllabi in primary and secondary schools and chooses Oxford books, adopted by local authors for teaching English throughout the country.

OUPP publishes its first commissioned series, “Ahmed and Rehana” by Patricia Clements.

1964

  • OUPP publishes its first commissioned series, “Ahmed and Rehana” by Patricia Clements.

1968

  • Pakistan gets Afghanistan and Iran as additional Sales Territories.

Pakistan gets Afghanistan and Iran as additional Sales Territories.

Lahore office is attacked by a mob and put on fire with Mir Wajid Ali there as Manager. Stock room is also set on fire and books ruined.

1969

  • Lahore office is attacked by a mob and put on fire with Mir Wajid Ali there as Manager. Stock room is also set on fire and books ruined.

1970s

1970

  • OUPP opens up its first showroom in Saddar, Karachi, called Pakistan Co-operative Books Society, stocking only OUPP Books.

OUPP opens up its first showroom in Saddar, Karachi, called Pakistan Co-operative Books Society, stocking only OUPP Books.

Urdu Workbooks Gulistan-e-Urdu for primary schools and Nirdaban-e-Urdu for Secondary School published.

1977/78

  • Urdu Workbooks Gulistan-e-Urdu for primary schools and Nirdaban-e-Urdu for Secondary School published.

1979

  • Zia Hussain and Ameena Saiyid both join OUPP in the Sales Department.

Zia Hussain and Ameena Saiyid both join OUPP in the Sales Department.

1980s

First raid against piracy takes place in Urdu Bazar, Lahore

1981

  • First raid against piracy takes place in Urdu Bazar, Lahore.

1982

  • OUPP celebrates 30 years in Pakistan.

OUPP celebrates 30 years in Pakistan

Kashif Urdu is launched by OUPP – a series that still continues today.

1984

  • Kashif Urdu is launched by OUPP – a series that still continues today.

1988

  • Ameena Saiyid takes charge of OUPP as General Manager on the 14th of August.

Ameena Saiyid takes charge of OUPP as General Manager on the 14th of August

Shanul Haq Haqee signed by OUPP for the translation of “Concise Oxford Dictionary” into Urdu.

1989

  • Shanul Haq Haqee signed by OUPP for the translation of “Concise Oxford Dictionary” into Urdu.
  • The Young Scientist Investigates, Stories from South Asia, Oxford History Project, The Oxford Progressive English Readers and Exploring Science are launched.

1990s

1990

  • Book 1 of the new original course, Oxford Primary Science, a series of 5 books by Nicholas Horsburgh is launched. The book is designed and illustrated completely in Pakistan.

Book 1 of the new original course, Oxford Primary Science, a series of 5 books by Nicholas Horsburgh is launched. The book is designed and illustrated completely in Pakistan.

Islamabad office opened up

1991

  • Islamabad office opened up.
  • Secretary visits OUPP – Sir Roger Elliot with Roger Boning.
  • Supplementary Readers developed, published and also supplied supplementary readers to state schools under World Bank Project.
  • OUPP launches Oxford Pakistan Paperback Series. First three titles include; Pakistan: The Formative Phase, The Pakistan Army, • War and Succession: India, Pakistan and the Creation of Bangladesh.

1994

  • Vice Chancellor Sir Peter North visits OUP Pakistan and India.

Vice Chancellor Sir Peter North visits OUP Pakistan and India.

2 acres of land purchased in Korangi for OUPP Head office.

1995

  • 2 acres of land purchased in Korangi for OUPP Head office.

1997

  • OUPP celebrates 50 years of Pakistan by publishing “The Jubilee Series” of 37 titles.
  • OUPP launches a website.
  • James Arnold Baker, CEO, visits Pakistan – inaugurates the Warehouse in Korangi. Ameena Saiyid and James Arnold meet British Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh during their Pakistan visit to celebrate 50 years of Independence.

OUPP celebrates 50 years of Pakistan by publishing “The Jubilee Series” of 37 titles.

Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Korangi Head office by Bapsi Sidhwa.

1999

  • Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Korangi Head office by Bapsi Sidhwa.

2000s

2002

  • OUPP holds a month-long Oxford Book Festival in 19 cities.

OUPP holds a month-long Oxford Book Festival in 19 cities.

Opening of bookshop at Islamabad.

2003

  • Opening of bookshop at Islamabad.
  • Opening of bookshop in Park Towers, Clifton Karachi.

2005

  • OUPP Mobile Bookshop hits the road.
  • Dr Henry Reece, the then CEO of Oxford University Press, officially inaugurates the Korangi Head office of OUPP.

OUPP Mobile Bookshop hits the road.

Opening of bookshop in Urdu Bazaar, Karachi.

2006

  • Opening of bookshop in Urdu Bazaar, Karachi.

2008

  • Opening of bookshop in Nazimabad, Karachi.
  • Opening of bookshop and office in Mini Market, Lahore.

Opening of bookshop in Nazimabad, Karachi.

Opening of bookshop at Quetta.

2009

  • Opening of bookshop at Quetta.
  • Opening of bookshop and office at Faisalabad.

2010s

2010

  • Opening of bookshops in Sargodha, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Peshawar.
  • The first ever Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) is held in collaboration with British Council.

Opening of a bookshop in Sargodha.

Opening of a bookshop at Khalid bin Waleed Road, Karachi.

2011

  • Opening of bookshops at Khalid bin Waleed Road, Karachi and Multan.
  • The first ever Childrenís Literature Festival (CLF) is held in Lahore in collaboration with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA).

2012

  • Opening of a bookshop in Rahimyar Khan.
  • CLFs held in Quetta and Peshawar.
  • OUP Pakistan celebrates 60 years of Publishing in Pakistan by inaugurating a Museum of Publishing at OUP Pakistan head office.
  • Launch of the first ever OUP Pakistan Mobile Libraries.

Opening of a bookshop in Rahimyar Khan.

Oxford Sales Academy (OSA) introduced in OUP Pakistan.

2013

  • Oxford Sales Academy (OSA) introduced in OUP Pakistan
  • The first ever Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF) is held.
  • CLFs held in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.

2014

  • OUP Pakistan wins The UK Publishers Association Copyright Protection Award.
  • Closure of Oxford bookshop at Khalid bin Waleed Road, Karachi.

OUP Pakistan wins The UK Publishers Association Copyright Protection Award.

Launch of Oxford Teachers’ Academy (OTA) in Pakistan.

2015

  • Launch of Oxford Teachersí Academy (OTA) in Pakistan.
  • Launch of Oxford Big Read (OBR) in schools in Pakistan.
  • The first ever Teachersí Symposium is organized at Murree and Bhurban.
  • Opening of bookshops in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and at Tariq Road, Karachi.

2016

  • Launch of Oxford Quality (OQ) in schools in Pakistan.
  • CLFs held in Sukkur and Hyderabad
  • Closure of Oxford bookshop at Park Towers, Clifton, Karachi.

Launch of Oxford Quality (OQ) in schools in Pakistan.

KLF London was held in London’s Southbank Centre (Alchemy Festival).

2017

  • KLF London is held in collaboration with Bloomsbury Pakistan at Southbank Centreís Alchemy Festival.
  • Launch of the Platinum Series to celebrate 70 years of Pakistan.
  • Launch of the first ever OUP Pakistan Mobile Library Rickshaw.
  • Inauguration of a bookshop at Dolmen Mall, Clifton, Karachi.
  • Closure of Oxford bookshops at Centaurus Mall, Islamabad; Dera Ghazi Khan; and CSD Mall, Rawalpindi.
  • Launch of Oxford Genuine Books (OGB) in schools in Pakistan.
  • CLFs held in Larkana, Mithi, and Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah).

2018

  • Launch of Dragonfly Readers, a graded reading series exploring Asian cultural themes and values.
  • Inauguration of purpose-built warehousing facility Lahore Distribution Centre (LDC).
  • CLFs held in Turbat and Multan.
  • Ameena Saiyid retires after thirty years of serving as OUP Pakistanís Managing Director and its Chair.
  • Arshad Saeed Husain takes over as Managing Director OUP Pakistan.

Launch of Dragonfly Readers, a new 9-levelled graded reading series which promotes reading for pleasure and develops reading comprehension skills, while exploring Asian cultural themes and values.