Paper merchants seek duty free import of paper for textbooks

All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association (APPMA) Wednesday urged the government to reduce import duty on paper and paperboard.

The government should also allow duty-free import of paper used for printing of textbooks that would help the students to get textbooks on cheaper rates.

While leading APPMA delegation, Khamis Saeed Butt made this demand in a meeting with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Acting President Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi here at LCCI on Wednesday. They have discussed in detail the issues pertaining to trade and economic with especial focus on paper industry.

During the meeting, Nadeem Qureshi assured the delegates that Lahore Chamber would continue its untiring efforts to promote the paper and paperboard sector, adding that this sector was doing a social service by keeping the education in the reach of the common man. All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association was playing a significant role for the promotion of education sector, he opined.

He said that government and private sector were important for each other and could not move separately. He called upon the government to develop policies to ensure a conducive business environment and address genuine issues of the business community.

LCCI Acting President said that business community was the driving force of the economy but it could not play its due role for economic wellbeing of the country because of various challenges. He said, there was an urgent need to reform the taxation system by engaging all the stakeholders.

He also stressed the need for widening tax base and bringing untaxed sectors into tax net instead of burdening existing taxpayers.

(APP)