KARACHI: The closing ceremony of Pakistan’s Printpak 2017 exhibition was held at Expo Centre Karachi, organised by Pakistan Association of Printing & Graphic Arts Industry (PAPGAI) and Badar Expo Solutions, along with the printing sector of Pakistan.
Around 80 companies were part of the exhibition with over 20 international firms of 9 countries. Around 13 companies were from US, 6 from China and 2 from the UK.
Companies and foreign delegates that visited the exhibition included representatives of; US, Australia, China, Germany, UK, Bangladesh, Indonesia, New Zealand and other countries.
Earlier, PAPGAI Chairman Dr S M Minhajuddin briefed that, “The encouraging response and success of the exhibition has concluded winning prospect for the future exhibitions in Lahore and Karachi and we will Insha Allah bring out next year’s expo on a larger scale, with higher level of international participation and with a greater impact.”
While delivering vote of thanks, the Exhibition Committee head Salman Haroon said. “We are thankful to all sponsors and exhibitors and assure that we will constantly improve the overall level of exhibition with professional assistance of our event manager, the Badar Expo Solutions.”
Meanwhile, Dr Minhajuddin said we can double the [printing] industry size, which was around $4.5 billion in Pakistan and 2nd largest industry providing employment to approximately over 2 million workers.
The government had failed to reduce taxes imposed on paper and raw material to enhance the exports of printing and graphic arts industry, he said
“It is astonishing that around 50 per cent duty and taxes have been imposed on raw material while duty on paper is the highest in the world. This issue is hurting our industry and it should be addressed on priority basis. Government should support value added industry,” he said. Meanwhile, an award distribution ceremony was also held and awards given to sponsors and exhibitors.
Published in Daily Times, November 22nd 2017.
