Alarming Situation for Millions of Students to Study Without Textbooks

Millions of students across the country are in an alarming situation that might be they could study without textbooks in the upcoming new academic year in August 2022. The reason is that publishers halt the publishing process due to a hike in the prices of the paper.

Talking with media sources, Chairman of Publishers and Booksellers Association of Pakistan and Pakistan Association of Printing & Graphic Arts Industry, Aziz Khalid saith that publishers would not be able to publish textbooks if the Govt does not control the price of paper. He said that local paper is inferior to imported paper. However, the per kilogram price of local paper has been increased by Rs. 100 since January of this year. each week, the price per kg is increased by 5-8 Rs. Aziz clarified that publishers cannot use imported paper in textbooks due to the high taxes.

As a result, local publishers have stopped buying paper for textbooks. While it could force the students to study without textbooks and collapse the textbook publishing industry in the country.

Aziz also said that Government should consider this situation and reduce the tax on the import of paper. In the previous budget 2021-22, a 10% regulatory duty was imposed on uncoated woodfree paper. The duty was imposed despite a massive 39% existing anti-dumping duty at the same time. Earlier publishers go on protested and halt their publishing operations due to the soaring prices of paper.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice f the delay in printing textbooks caused by the incompetence of the PCTB. the mismanagement of PCTB has forced millions of students in the province to enter the new academic session without textbooks.it looks weird and discomforting for the students.