PAPGAI opposes duty on offset printing ink

The Pakistan Association of Printing and Graphic Arts Industry (PAPGAI) has demanded of National Tariff Commission (NTC) to withdraw its decision to impose anti-dumping duty on offset printing ink immediately. "This decision will encourage smuggling particularly through Afghan transit and the government will lose hefty revenue by said decision," said a statement of PAPGAI that strongly condemned the NTC for the decision that was a serious threat for the printing industry.
It said that the decision of the NTC would raise the cost of printing, especially the educational publications. PAPGAI said that the printed materials were being imported under HS Code 4901-9100 to 4901-9910, 4903-000 and 4902-9000 at nearly zero rate of duty. But the paper was overtaxed.
Expressing it deep concern PAPGAI said that the imposition of anti-dumping duty on printing inks would harm the local printing industry, which was already facing the threat of duty-free imported printed materials. Terming the decision of NTC as detrimental for the printing industry, the association said that existing duty and taxes on ink were nearly 52%. It said that the local industry was overburdened with hefty duties and taxes and the printing and graphic arts industry was struggling without the support of the government.
It cited that the Import Trade Price (ITP) of offset ink had been soared up to 50% during last eight months through unfair method and without the consent of the stake-holders. It is to be noted that the decision of increasing the ITP was taken during the hearing by the customs valuation officials but, surprisingly, importers and the majority of the local manufacturers were not informed regarding the hearing.
The association said that none of the local ink manufacturers had expressed grievances against the imported offset inks, however; it seems that concerned government departments have conspired with one certain manufacturer to strangulate the printing industry. The PAPGAI said that the increased ink prices would lead to expensive printing of textbooks making education more expensive in country, where literacy rate was already very low.