PrintPak Expo 2017 kicks off

Showcasing the huge potential of the printing and paper industry to generate massive economic activity in the country, an exhibition, titled ‘PrintPak Expo 2017’, started at the Expo Centre on Thursday.

Organised by the Pakistan Association of Printing and Graphic Arts Industry (PAPGAI), the event will continue till Monday.

It is expected that 76,240 visitors from 112 countries, 1,868 exhibitors and over 7,000 delegates will participate.

The exhibitors have set up around 185 stalls, including digital imaging stalls, media production and printing, packaging and graphic arts.

PAPGAI, which was formed in 1959, provides professional training to printing and graphic arts industrialists, as well as exploring new ideas by exhibiting their innovative and advanced technology products and services to boost the printing industry in the country.

“Printing rough material, including ink, plates, paper and machinery, are heavily taxed, whereas imported printed books are duty-free. As a result, the printing industry in Pakistan is not able to reach its full potential,” said Dr SM Minhajuddin, chairman, PAPGAI, while speaking to The News.

He said the printing industry was the second largest industry of Pakistan in terms of providing employment, but some factors, including smuggling, under-invoicing and mis-declaration, badly affected the industry.

He pointed out that there was a discrepancy in data on Pakistan’s imports from China, saying that Pakistan imported $17.23 billion worth of goods from China every year, but, according to its data, the value of our imports from China was only $13.68 billion. The electronic data interchange system between China and Pakistan had been ready since May, but it had not been implemented, he said.

He suggested that details of each and every consignment exported from China and other countries to Pakistan should be transmitted to the Pakistan Customs immediately after shipment.

He added that this data could be compared by the customs with the entry filed by Pakistani importers, and in case of any discrepancy, the importer must be fined and duty and taxes recovered on the actual value of the consignment.

Ashraf Lakhani, founder of Amanco, a trading company and business group with diversified interest in printing and packaging, said Pakistan was the only country where printing and papers industries paid 51 per cent duty and taxes due to the monopoly of some dominated papers mills. “Though paper is not a luxurious item, the importers are forced to pay heavy taxes, which push the businessmen onto the verge of tears.”