Chairman, All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association (APPMA), Muhammad Saleem has urged the Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to direct concerned authorities to reduce import duty on offset paper and paper board used in printing of books, copies and packing.
In an informal discussion with newsmen, he said that import duty on offset paper used in printing of books and copies and paper board is on higher side which come to 20 percent on offset paper and 25 percent on paper board beside Regulatory Duty (RD) which is 15 percent.
Muhammad Saleem demanded that there should be no duty on import of offset paper and paperboard to reduce cost of books and copies used for education as well as reduce cost of packing materials.
He said that RD was imposed in February 2009 after which packing material paper cost increased by 60 percent or from Rs 38 per kg to Rs 62 per kg including impact of 33 percent devaluation rupee against dollar. Replying to a question, he said that Pakistan is exporting locally produced paper around Rs 2 billion to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and other countries annually.
Replying another questions, he said that quality of locally produced paper is inferior than imported one and as well as it can not be used in packing of goods meant for exports. To another question, he said that Pakistan has capability to produce good quality paper and added that it costs very high due to ever increasing cost of doing business in the country including frequently revising power and gas tariff.