ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: Pakistan produced 34,474 tons of paper and paperboard in the first month of the fiscal year 2004-05 as compared to 33,153 tons during the same period last year, showing an increase of 3.98 per cent.

According to sources, the overall production of various types of papers was 13,176 tons during July 2004 as compared to 12,881 tons the same period last year, showing a rise of 2.29 per cent.

The production of writing paper was 12.02 per cent higher and packing paper was 13.53 per cent. The production of writing paper stood at 8,482 tons and packing paper 3,376 tons during the first month of the current fiscal. However, the production of printing paper declined by 35.64 per cent.

Mills produced 19,420 tons paperboard during July 2004 against 18,237 tons produced in the same period a year, showing an increase of 6.49 per cent. The production of chip board decreased by 7.71 per cent due to heavy rains at the beginning of the year and shortage of mango firewood used as raw material. The mills produced 1,878 tons chip board in July 2004 and 2,035 tons in the same period last year, the sources added.-APP