Smile is back on the cheeks of 35-year-old printer, Muhammad Tufail with the boom in printing industry in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the 2013 election activities has created a very positive impact on its overall printing business.
Hailing from Landi Arbab, Peshawar, Tufail told APP Tuesday the election activities had brought significant investment to local printing industry and its associated businesses.
Entering into this hard-hitting business after completing his education, Tufail who own a printing unit in Mohallah Jhangi, Peshawar disclosed that some of the printers had received printing orders to the tune of
Rs 1 million for preparation of posters, stickers and bills boards of the contesting candidates of general elections that would be held on May 11, 2013.
He said the printers were receiving printing orders mostly from the polling agents, who usually played key role in attracting investment for their blue eyed, adding about 2,000 printers and graphic designers are associated with this business in Peshawar.
"Initially I was thinking to visit abroad for job but lack of technical education, love with children and performance of religious obligation had prevented me and therefore, I decided to help my family to strengthen my business," said Tufail.
Most of the orders we received from candidates are publishing posters of 18-23inch and stickers, he said, adding candidates are taking keen interests in posters, preparation of party flags, billboards and stickers as part of their publicity campaign.
"I would definitely encourage new talents if they wish to join printing industry as profession," said Tufail in whose shop about 12 workers are earning for their families.
The businessmen dealing with this business are mostly go to Lahore to repair technical fault once developed in their printing machines, as local expertise was not existent, he said. "It is very costly practice and sometime we have to pay up to Rs 100,000 for its repair including transport cost," he remarked.
"The printing industry could flourish in Peshawar, if we have the required expertise, quality manpower and a mechanism to control prices of papers and inflation as for as election materials are concerned," he maintained.
Certainly, the election activities had registered an upward growth in the printing business especially of those printers who deal with stickers and bill boards," another printer of Qisakhwani Adeel Khan told APP.
The business activities are generated in almost all filed of advertising and printers and publishers are earning more in this election compare to previous elections, he added.
The printers claimed that agents of political candidate were receiving high commission for brokering a business deal up to Rs 50,000 between a candidate and printing press owner.
They said the entire responsibility of the quality of posters, bill-boards and stickers lied on the shoulders of the agents and any fault, if pinpointed, bear by the agents.
The printers in Mohalla Jehangi said printing business was picking up momentum due to improvement of law and order situation and participation of all mainstream political parties in the general elections.
In elections 2013, Adeel Khan said, printers are working till late night to meet the targets and demands of elections candidates.
He said the printers who are without declaration are adversely affecting the business of those working on standard procedure set by the competent authorities.
Engr Zulfiqar Aziz, candidate for PK-13 Nowshera told APP that elections printing materials were playing key role for dissemination, mobilisation and information of electorates especially young voters.
He said there would be no need of installation of big bill-boards had the candidates been provided free atmosphere for electioneering. The printers expressed optimism that their business would be increased further as elections date come nearer and demanded the government to include printing industry in their priority list for its rich contribution in the national kitty.