KARACHI: Contrary to other parts of the country, Karachi is not seeing any large-scale display of panaflex banners and posters due to strict enforcement of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on June 30, 2018.

Panaflex manufacturers in Karachi have expressed surprise over pictures appearing in the print media regarding display of panaflex items in other parts of the country.

Sources said officials of deputy commissioners’ offices have frequently been visiting panaflex printing workplaces to inspect implementation of the ECP code of conduct besides issuing orders to stop printing panaflex items.

They have also removed election panaflex banners in many areas.

However, the sources said some panaflex manufacturers are still printing orders taken from interior of Sindh and Balochistan candidates.

Panaflex manufacturers in Karachi are in quandary because of the clause of the code of conduct that relates to a ban on nonregistered or non-income tax filer manufacturers as a majority of them have small set-ups and are non-filers.

The manufacturers have circulated messages issued from the deputy commissioners’ offices among themselves which state that the use of panaflex material has been banned.

Banners and other election-related material must be printed on cloth, the official order states.

The ECP has fixed poster size at 18 inch x 23 inch, pamphlet size nine inch x six inch, banner size three feet x six feet and portrait size two feet x three feet as per code of conduct.

The ECP has bound publishers and printers to print their contact number and address on banners, posters and pamphlets as well.

Printers and publishers are also asked to display the ECP decision at a prominent place at their business places, which is, however, not seen at various printing sites.

Some market players had said that the ECP ban on panaflex might expire on July 9. But this was not mentioned in the messages and notices of the deputy commissioners received by panaflex manufacturers on June 30. The ban remains in place.

A random visit to Al Karam Square in Liaquatabad portrayed a different picture as compared to June 30, when workers and owners of panaflex businesses were more involved in their work.

Two panaflex operators at Block II of Al Karam Square, who asked not to be named, said the printing process was down by 50-60 per cent compared to the 2013 elections due to the ECP code of conduct.

“Whatever work we are doing now for political candidates [is] meant for display inside residential areas and their election offices instead of main roads,” they said adding that display on main roads was banned.

On the ECP ban on printing of panaflex items, they claimed that only two feet x three feet was allowed adding that “if the ECP allows display of panaflex banners at poles and on main roads then we may be able to cover our investment made on new machines.”

They said the market was abuzz with rumours that printing of panaflex posters and banners might resume in a couple of days.

Other mediums of electioneering

With a dramatic drop in panaflex display in the city, it has been noticed that many political candidates have switched over to other modes of media in this election which was not largely seen in 2013 elections.

For instance, these candidates have hired large commercial vehicles on which a huge electronic board displays the name and pictures of contesting candidates.

Besides, some young workers of political parties have also been seen carrying LED TVs fastened to their backs on motorcycles playing images and videos of their parties’ candidates and their leaders on roads for the first time in this election.

Investments on panaflex

Like many people, owner of Al Baqi Printing at Burnes Road, Mohammad Altamash Feroz, has also invested Rs3.2 million in bringing new Chinese-made panaflex machines by replacing old machines. “I could not fully utilise the machine for election purpose owing to negligible work demand [compared to] the last elections,” he said adding that various orders of political parties had been cancelled.

He said panaflex owners were expecting higher business this year, but it seemed that all hopes were now lost.

He claimed that he had checked with other panaflex manufacturers and so far the ban on making panaflex items for election still existed.

Another panaflex owner on Burnes Road said, “so far it is only a rumour that the ban on panaflex is lifting.”

NA-244 candidate for the Pak Sarzameen Party Saeed Shafiq said he had met district returning officer East a few days ago asking him to allow panaflex items which could at least survive in the rainy season as compared to banners and posters made of cloth.

He said he had made 50-100 panaflex (three feet x nine feet) banners which remained unutilised so far.

Mr Saeed claimed that the restriction on panaflex items would expire soon and he would start displaying panaflex in the next one to two days.

PML-N candidate for NA-243 Haji Shahjehan said he along with two provincial assembly candidates had already made 500 (two feet x two feet) panaflex items besides further ordering 1,500 more despite the ban on panaflex on main roads.

He said allowing only income-tax filer panaflex printers has hit the business as a majority of them have small set-ups and are non-filers.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2018