CPNE urges abolition of GST on newsprint

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has rejected outright the imposition of 10 per cent GST on the import of newsprint by the government, terming it an attempt to “further push print media into disaster”.

In a joint statement, CPNE President Irshad Ahmed Arif and Secretary General Aijazul Haq noted that print media was already ridden with “severe crisis”, and any move against it was tantamount to weakening the “fourth important pillar of Pakistan”.

They noted that print media played a pivotal role between the government and the masses by disseminating information and maintaining freedom of expression.

They urged the government not to “further push print media towards crisis”, noting that it was already suffering from serious economic challenges”.

The statement noted that the prices of newsprint and other material used in the production of newspapers and magazines had already skyrocketed due to depreciation in the value of the rupee following which their publication was “badly impacted”.

The CPNE urged the government to withdraw the 10 per cent GST on newsprint.