19 May 2004	Wednesday	28 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 18: Due to the exceeding cost of printing paper, the Sindh Textbook Board (STB) has not been able to supply paper to publishers on subsidized rates, said market sources.

It was learnt that as per agreement with a private party, the cost of one metric tonne of imported Indonesian paper was fixed at Rs61,500, but publishers enlisted with the STB for printing books were provided the paper at a price of Rs62,375 per tonne.

A publisher engaged by STB attributed the alleged overcharging on printing papers to flaws in the paper import agreement made between the Board and a private party, and inordinate delay in the clearance of consignments from the port.

As per the agreement, the paper in question, with the watermark insignia "Sindh Textbook Board" was supposed to be delivered at STB Godowns latest by February 15. However, it was available at the godowns late April for delivery to publishers without the water mark, added the publisher.

It was further claimed that overcharging on paper would surely cause an increase in the cost of production of textbooks, which would be recovered by increasing the price of books.

An amount to the tune of Rs5 million had been overcharged from publishers on account of offset white printing paper and duplex cards meant for titles of books, which would ultimately be shifted to individuals buying the books or different district governments, which had ordered them for their primary school students, said a market source.

In the meantime, according to an STB source, the Board had approached the chief minister for relaxing rules regarding the exceeding import cost of printing paper. As per the tender, the Board was authorised to pay at a rate of Rs61,500 but it had now paid Rs3 million in excess, added the source.

Marketeers were also concerned over the fact that the printing paper for STB was available locally at a rate of Rs42,750 per tonne, but it preferred to import that, with a slight change in size, at 61,500, which increased further.

They claimed that in contrary to other provinces, the Sindh government did not prefer to supply book paper and cards on a subsidized rate due to which the price of books increased remarkably. The ultimate sufferers would be buyers since publishers would be able to recover their payment made in excess, under the price formula.