Logoed school supplies spark legal fight

Stationers vow to move court against schools selling branded items at inflated prices

RAWALPINDI:

The All Pakistan Books and Stationers Association has announced that it will challenge in the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench the practice of private schools selling notebooks, books, stationery, uniforms, registers and ties with printed logos at prices 300 to 500 per cent higher than the open market.

The chief executive officer of the Rawalpindi District Education Authority (DEA) has already imposed a ban on private schools, forcing parents to purchase expensive logo-printed books, notebooks, uniforms and stationery. The ban also prohibits schools from compelling parents to buy such items from designated stationery shops. However, private schools have refused to comply.

Fayyaz Abbasi, President of the All Pakistan Books and Stationers Association Cantt, told The Express Tribune that with two to two-and-a-half months left before the new academic year, the government, DEA and deputy commissioner must immediately stop private schools from printing logos on all kinds of stationery, including registers, drawing books and practical books.

He added that printing presses should also be barred from printing school logos, as December and January are peak months for printing such items.

He urged the Competition Commission to ensure strict enforcement of the ban, rather than issuing notices only to major school chains.

Abbasi said private school owners in Rawalpindi Cantt were threatening them through political and elected representatives and issuing legal notices, but the association would not back down.

He said protest applications have already been submitted to the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi, who have also ordered schools to stop selling logo-printed books.

The DEA should enforce a complete ban on the sale of logo-printed stationery in private schools and confiscate items found in school canteens or designated shops across the city.

He claimed that enforcing the ban would significantly reduce the prices of stationery, books, notebooks and uniforms, directly benefiting parents.

The association plans to file a petition in court in the coming days.