INDONESIA

A Bad Year for Pakistan

A Bad Year for Pakistan

In previous years, the printing business in Peshawar has done well as a result of elections in Afghanistan. 


Most of the campaign posters used in Afghanistan were printed abroad, particularly in Pakistan. For the 2009 election, campaign material printed in Pakistan cost around 20 million US dollars. 


But this year, things are different. 


This is Jhangi Mohallah, a street in Peshawar, known for its printing businesses. 


When the schedule for the up-coming Afghan elections was announced, many shops decided to take on new staff to complete the anticipated increase in orders. 


Jamshaid Khan has been working in a printing shop for the last two decades. “We have a lot of work from across the border during the elections. For the last few years, the election printing orders from Afghanistan have come to us. We have been earning good money.”


Because of the security situation and a lack of reliable electricity, most of Afghanistan’s campaign materials were produced outside the country, particularly in Pakistan, which offers cheaper rates. But this year the Afghan government has asked candidates not to publish campaign materials abroad. 


Haider Ali is a printing press owner in Jhangi Mohallah. “Now business is slow. The election printing is not coming to us in large quantities. For the past week, we have had a very limited amount of work from Afghanistan.”


In Pakistan, printing is the second largest business after textiles. 


Printing orders from Afghanistan are important for the survival of local printing businesses. 


Zaffar Aman Khattak is the President of the Press and Publication Union of Khyber Pakthunkwa. 


“Printing shops earned million of rupees. Some even purchased imported printing machines. But this year the work from across the border is very limited.”


The printing shops in Peshawar are hoping the government will do all it can to save this business…


Workers like Jamshaid Khan is worried about his future. “Our families are also worried. Our children know that it’s getting weak for us to support our livelihood.”




  • Pakistan
  • Afghanistan
  • election
  • printing
  • Malik Ayub Sumbal

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