‘PrintPak becomes useful platform for local, foreign firms networking’

KARACHI: Pakistan has great potential for the growth of printing and graphic arts industry, while PrintPak has become a useful platform for the networking of local and international companies, said Muffasar Atta Malik, president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.
Earlier, the KCCI president inaugurated the 26th edition of PrintPak, the printing and graphic arts exhibition, being organised from November 18 to 20, at the Expo Centre.
The KCCI president assured full support to the industry and said the members of the industry would use its platform to raise issues being faced by the industry and would help them grow so that Pakistani products can compete in the world.
Foreign countries’ stalls and participation is laudable, as it provides them opportunities to showcase their products and services to the world, he added.
Meanwhile, Dr S M Minhajuddin, chairman of the Pakistan Association of Printing and Graphic Arts Industry (PAPGAI), said that despite the sheer size of printing and graphic arts industry, which is around $4.5 billion in Pakistan and second largest industry, provides employment to approximately over two million workers.
Pakistan should decide whether it should move forward for a manufacturing base or for a trading base industry since it is cheaper to get Pakistani products printed abroad than printing them in the country, he said.
The governments had failed to reduce taxes imposed on paper and raw material to enhance exports of printing and graphic arts industry, Minhajuddin said.
“It is astonishing that around 50 percent duty and taxes have been imposed on raw materials, while duty on paper is the highest in the world. This issue is hurting our industry and it should be addressed on a priority basis.”
“The government should support value-added industry and provide relaxation on taxation and duties for the growth of the industry, which was already providing employment opportunities to around two million people working in 15,000 printing presses and binding houses across the country,” he added.
Salman Haroon, chairman of Printpak Exhibition Committee. said that PrintPak 2017 Exhibition would be far bigger and better from the past exhibitions, “as we strived to improve with every passing year”.
Companies and foreign delegates from around the world are participating in the exhibition. These companies are from the US, Australia, China, Germany, the UK, Bangladesh, Heidelberg, Indonesia, New Zealand and other regions.
Around 80 companies are taking part in the exhibition with 20 international firms of nine countries.
Around 13 companies from US, six from China and two companies from the UK have major participation in the exhibition.
Printpak is jointly being organised by the apex body of printing and graphic arts industry, the PAPGAI and Badar Expo Solutions.