LAHORE, May 10: The All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association has demanded reduction in customs duty on import of paper and board to 10 per cent and withholding tax to two percent.

The demands were voiced at a meeting of the association held here on Wednesday with Samiullah Butt in the chair.

Vice-chairman Khamas Saeed said duty on paper and board required to be brought on a par with the semi-finished products as these were used as raw material by packaging and printing industries. Reduction in customs duty would also facilitate decrease in prices of textbooks and exercise books. Steps should also be taken to check the import of quality paper as wastepaper. Duration of bonded warehouse facility should be increased to one year.

Vice-chairman Sheikh Ziauddin said smuggling under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade should be controlled by receiving full taxes on arrival of goods at Karachi and making refunds on confirmation of entry into Afghanistan. —Reporter