The government should play a decisive role for reduction in paper prices as recent massive hikes have given a big blow to this business. Executive Member Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Khamis Saeed Butt stated this while talking to Business Recorder on Saturday. He condemned the increase in prices of local paper from Rs 82 per kg to Rs 115kg and imported paper from Rs 140kg to Rs 200kg.
He said the hike in prices had made it impossible for students to buy exercise and textbooks. He alleged that excluding a few large mills, most mills are involved in under-invoicing, mis-declaration, underweighting and usage of substandard quality paper, depriving the government exchequer of millions of rupees monthly.
He also accused that most local mills are creating artificial shortage of paper in the market by running the mills for three days a week. He said that taking advantage of increase in prices of imported paper due to devaluation they are creating artificial shortage to make money. Khamis demanded that duties and taxes on imported paper should also be reduced in the larger interest of the masses. He also urged the prime minister, industries minister and education minister to take notice of unbridled hike in paper prices and ensure withdrawal of recent increase.