Endorsed and Supported by: ALL PAKISTAN PAPER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

RIEF HISTORY
ALL PAKISTAN PAPER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (APPMA) was formed in the Year 1993 through the amalgamation of THREE trade bodies at that time existing in Pakistan, namely, (i) KARACHI PAPER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (KPMA), (ii) LAHORE PAPER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (LPMA) AND (iii) RAWALPINDI PAPER MERCHANTS ASSOCIAION (RPMA).

APPMA consists on small and large entities, that includes importers, distributor, stockiest, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, brokers and indenters of Paper and Paper Board.(Some Printing & Packaging industries are also our members)  Its members work collectively to accomplish all that, which cannot be undertaken alone. APPMA was LICENSED under the Trade Organizations Ordinance 1961 on 20th October 1993 and currently License is renewed till 2024 u/s 3 of Trade Organizations Act 2013 and incorporated u/s 32 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 which regulates the working of the Trade Bodies in the country. It was incorporated u/s 32 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 by joint Registrar of the Companies, Government of Pakistan on 20th November 1993.

The promulgation of Trade Organization Ordinance 2007, APPMA is the only Association of the Paper Business sector who has been granted license under new Ordinance and has the privilege to be the only recognized Trade Body in Pakistan on Paper Trade, Printing, publishing and packaging industries.  The new license is granted by Director General Trade Organizations on 1st November 2008, vide license no. 109. The DGTO renewed its license up to 31.10.2014 and further renewed up to 31-10-2019.

COMPOSITION
The APPMA is affiliated with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. It has two classes of membership i.e. Associates and Corporate. Details can be obtained from the Membership list of the APPMA. This Association has currently around 2000 direct members both importers and traders all over Pakistan.

The Association has two Zonal Offices, one at Karachi for Southern Zone (covering the Provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan) and another at Lahore for Northern Zone (covering Provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Association can open Regional offices in any Municipal Limit where 100 or more valid members for last two consecutive years are available.

MANAGEMENT
The organization’s policies and programs are determined by the Central Executive Committee which are elected by the members, out of which half of the members retire every year and to replace them new members are inducted through election. The Central Executive Committee every year elects Chairman, Senior Vice Chairman and Vice-Chairman, one from each zone.

The Zonal offices dealt with the Provincial and Municipal matters, manage by the Zonal President, nominated by the Central Executive Committee. The President forms its own cabinet in the shape of Standing Committees to run the zonal matters.
 
STANDING COMMITTEES
Programs are carried out by the Standing Committees. The Executive Committee every year nominates the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Standing Committees on various subjects, relating to trade and other allied matters. The Standing Committees formulates their recommendations for the consideration and approval of the Executive Committee. Major Standing Committees are; Sales Tax, Budget & Taxation, Customs & Valuation, Local Trade & Banking and Dry Ports.

REPRESENTATION IN DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
This premier trade body has been given due representation in every important Advisory meeting(s) held on different intervals in Customs, Income Tax, Sales Tax departments, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Trade & Finance, Interior and others trade related Ministries and Government Departments etc. Those who are nominated by the APPMA to attend these meetings are senior and prominent businessmen of trade with their long experience and deep insight in specific fields.

While the APPMA’s participation in various Department’s meetings; keep it posted with up-to-date information on various government policies and measures, the APPMA also utilizes these forums to influence the policies and representation of the Government through personal discussion as well as through submission of representations/memorandum and studies. For example, comprehensive memorandum, giving considered recommendations and policy-proposals are submitted to the federal government well in advance before the announcement of the Federal Budget. The Provincial Government and local authorities concerned are also time to time approached and provided with necessary memorandum/representations. They are followed-up with personal meetings and discussions, it is against such an exercise and experience that problems related to both individual or collective nature, whether they are related to trade, imports, retail, taxation, shipping, telephones and electricity are dealt with and pursued till such problems are resolved. In fact, the APPMA acts as a catalyst and work as a bridge between the government and the members of the business community.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the Association, which is non-political, is to unite the members in their common approach.