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LAHORE: After the 200 percent increase in paper prices, publishing new books in the country seems impossible.
According to details, Abid Nasir, former vice-chairman of All Pakistan Merchant Association, said that high rates of tax on imported paper, significant depreciation of the rupee, rising dollar, and profiteering of local paper mills have led to a serious paper crisis across the country.
He said that as a result of this, the prices of paper in the country are skyrocketing, books for children will not be available in the future and the prices of whatever will happen will not be affordable to the common man.
Abid Nasir said that the books imported from abroad are duty-free and are being printed and imported in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. He said that all kinds of published material are also duty-free due to which the publishing industry is on the verge of collapse.
Abid Nasir, the former vice-chairman of the All Pakistan Merchant Association lamented that it was a tragedy that there was no duty to import published books and materials from abroad.
It is to be noted that the government had imposed a 70 percent duty on the import of paper which is used for publishing books and other materials.
According to the federal budget for the year 23-2022, 20 percent import duty is levied on the import paper, followed by 17.5 percent sales tax, 20 percent customs duty, 29 percent anti-dumping duty, and 6 percent additional duty.