Editorial
Tax imposed on newsprint
It will cripple the print media
The finance minister's proposal to withdraw the concession on newsprint does not augur well for the print media or the readers. It will cost nearly 27 percent more per ton under the new proposal.
The argument that the newspaper industry is getting undue advantage over commercial importers creating an "uneven competition" for domestic producers also rings hollow, especially since there is only one domestic producer of newsprint. That hardly constitutes an industry. Furthermore, the quality of locally produced newsprint is also poor, which will add to the cost of printing.
Hence, in the government's effort to end this discrepancy, as put so eloquently by the honourable minister of finance, the entire newspaper industry is apprehending a near-doubling of cost of production. The end result will be a significant increase in retail cost of newspapers across the board – a price that will have an adverse impact overall.
The newspaper industry is representative of the freedom of expression. It helps in ensuring that the fundamental rights of the people are upheld. The print media acts as a watchdog on government activities and serves the nation by bringing news and views that is representative of the people, and which helps to create an informed citizenry.
The proposal on the cards is a step in the wrong direction as it will not add significantly to revenue earnings for the national exchequer. On the contrary, it will result in reducing access to information by making newspapers less affordable for a large section of the public.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments