KARACHI: The closing ceremony of PrintPak 2017 was held here at Expo Centre Karachi, conducted by Association of Printing and Graphic Industry and Badar Expo Solutions, along with illustrious 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 the USA, 6 from China and 2 companies from the UK had a major participation in the exhibition.
Printpak was jointly organised by apex body of Printing and Graphic Arts Industry, the PAPGAI and Badar Expo Solutions. Around the world companies and foreign delegates visited the exhibition; these were from USA, Australia, China, Germany, UK, Bangladesh, Heidelburg, Indonesia, New Zealand and other regions.
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 much larger scale, with a higher level of international participation and with a greater impact”. While delivering a vote of thanks, Exhibition Committee Head Salman Haroon said, “We are thankful to all sponsors and exhibitors and assured that we will constantly improve the overall level of the exhibition with the professional assistance of our event manager, the Badar Expo Solutions”.
Meanwhile, Dr S M Minhajuddin said we can double the industry’s size which is around $ 4.5 billion in Pakistan and 2nd largest industry providing employment to approximately over 2 million workers.
The governments have 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. The government should support value-added industry,’ he added. Meanwhile, award distribution ceremony was also held and awards were given to sponsors and exhibitors.
