FCIK seeks amendment of circular restricting govt printing work to official presses

Federation flags idle private printing units, mounting government press workload and risks to investment and employment

SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged the Jammu & Kashmir Government to amend a circular mandating government departments and public institutions to route printing assignments through government presses, warning that the arrangement is leaving private printing establishments idle and putting investments and jobs at risk.

In a formal communication to the Commissioner/Secretary, ARI and Trainings, FCIK Advisory Committee head Shahid Kamili sought immediate amendment of Circular No. ARI-Adm/39/2026-01 dated April 24, 2026.

The circular requires government departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and other institutions to route printing assignments exclusively through government presses in Jammu and Srinagar. Private participation is permitted only in exceptional circumstances and subject to a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

FCIK has endorsed representations submitted by Mukhmoor Gowhar, president of the Kashmir Printers’ Association (KPA), Srinagar, and Pankaj Sethi, president of the J&K Offset Printers’ Association, Jammu, highlighting the impact of the arrangement on established printing enterprises that have invested in machinery, infrastructure and skilled manpower, often through institutional borrowings.

Government presses seek permission to outsource work

FCIK has questioned the rationale of restricting private printing units when government presses themselves have reported difficulties in handling accumulated assignments.

In a communication dated September 29, 2026, the Director, Government Press, J&K, informed the ARI and Trainings Department that substantial non-confidential printing and binding work had accumulated because of inadequate manpower.

The Director sought permission to outsource such assignments to registered private printers through competitive bidding on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The communication also indicated that outsourcing could help reduce the workload while enabling revenue realisation 15% above the prescribed target.

The Federation said the request highlighted the need for a procurement framework that allows government and private printing facilities to complement each other.

It also referred to an October 7 communication from the General Manager, Government Press, Srinagar, assuring a balanced proposal, and an October 12 communication from the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Kashmir, supporting a review of the existing procurement arrangement to facilitate private participation through competitive tendering, empanelment and fair work allocation.

FCIK calls for competitive procurement

Kamili said strengthening government presses should not come at the cost of established private industries.

He argued that confidential and security-sensitive assignments could remain with government presses wherever necessary, while routine printing work could be allocated to eligible private establishments through transparent competition.

FCIK has sought amendment of the circular, competitive procurement through GeM and other prescribed mechanisms, transparent empanelment of local printing units, equitable allocation of assignments and immediate consideration of the outsourcing proposal submitted by the Director, Government Press.

The Federation has also endorsed the Kashmir Printers’ Association’s demand for proper verification of existing and functional certificates to ensure that benefits intended for genuine printing manufacturers are not diverted to non-operational establishments, agents or trading concerns. It said such verification should not create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for legitimate businesses.

“The government cannot encourage entrepreneurs to invest in machinery, create employment and avail bank finance on the one hand, while denying them access to established markets on the other,” Kamili said.

He said the restrictive arrangement was inconsistent with the government’s Ease of Doing Business reforms and efforts to revive industry and generate employment.

“When Government Presses have accumulated work and private presses have idle capacity, allowing both to work together is not merely an industrial demand but a matter of economic prudence and public interest,” he added.

FCIK has urged the government to act on recommendations already made by its departments and introduce a fair, competitive procurement framework without further delay. It warned that prolonged exclusion from government printing assignments could push otherwise viable private printing establishments into financial distress.