Key Takeaways
- Printers and publishers demand establishment of a paper mill in KP.
- They seek release of sales tax refunds and greater provincial autonomy.
- The SCCI President, Junaid Altaf, supports their demands.
PESHAWAR: Printers and publishers have called for the establishment of a paper mill in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to reduce dependence on other provinces, lower production costs, and ensure continuous supply. The demand was made during a dinner hosted by the Businessman Forum at the Chamber House.
The meeting was chaired by Junaid Altaf, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), who expressed support for their proposals. He stated that the printing industry plays a vital role in economic development and job creation, emphasizing the need to resolve their issues on priority basis.
Altaf highlighted that more than 3,300 printing presses operate across KP, providing employment to nearly 40,000 workers. He also called for recognition of their contribution and formalization of policies to support industrial growth.
The printers and publishers raised concerns over unannounced electricity loadshedding, tripping, and fluctuation. They demanded immediate provision and up-gradation of the electricity infrastructure, including installation of dedicated power transformers for printing industries.
They also sought registration of Jhangi neighborhood as an official SME zone to facilitate industrial growth and government support. Additionally, they stressed proactive steps to ensure the safety and security of printing presses, publishing houses, and their workforce.
The demand for special tax concessions was made to reduce costs for KP by importing or supplying paper from Punjab and Karachi. They also sought awarding of government tenders on a priority basis to KP-based printers and publishers.
Earlier, the printers and publishers had reposed full trust in the leadership of the Businessman Forum and announced their support for the forum's upcoming election campaign.
The printing industry has a vital role in economic development and generating employment so that the government should resolve their issues on priority basis.
Junaid Altaf, President of the SCCI
