Committee Convenes to Address Issues Facing Printers and Publishers

KABUL (BNA): The Ministry of Information and Culture convened a meeting to discuss and address the challenges faced by printing presses, publishers’ unions, and book and paper sellers. The session was chaired by Mawlawi Abdul Aleem Zaanwak Muftizada, the Head of Bayhaqi Books Publications.

During the meeting, committee members highlighted several pressing concerns, and Zaanwak assured his commitment to resolving the issues.

The meeting concluded with decisions to propose measures aimed at improving the conditions of publishers and booksellers. These include allocating a specific location for creating a market and cultural hub for these stakeholders, providing special tax exemptions to private publishers and booksellers, and granting waivers and reductions on customs duties for importing paper and raw materials for paper production.

Furthermore, the proposals emphasized the importance of facilitating the printing of the Holy Quran and other books, prioritizing the purchase of locally produced books for use in government institutions, particularly by the Ministries of Higher Education and Education, and establishing specialized departments in academic institutions to focus on bookbinding, design, miniatures, printing, and technical aspects of book production.

The recommendations are expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office for approval, aiming to enhance cultural and literary development in Afghanistan.

Bakhtar