Over the years, Packages has continued to enhance its facilities to meet the growing demand of packaging products.


In 1968, with IFC participation, Packages integrated upstream by establishing a pulp and paper mill with a capacity of 24,000 tons per year based on waste paper and agricultural by-products i.e. wheat straw and river grass. With growing demand the capacity was increased periodically and in January 2003, total capacity was nearly 100,000 tons per year.

In 1981, Packages modified a paper machine to produce tissue paper in response to growing awareness and demand for hygienic and disposable tissues. The “Rose Petal” Brand name was launched with facial tissues and was later expanded to include toilet paper, kitchen roll, and table napkins.

In 1986, the Company established a flexible packaging unit to cater to the increasing demand from consumers for sophisticated packaging used primarily in the food industry.

In 1993, a joint venture agreement was signed with Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan for the manufacture of Polypropylene films at the Industrial Estate in Hattar, NWFP. This project, Tri-Pack Films Limited, commenced production in June 1995 with equity participation by Packages Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, Altawfeek Company for Investment Funds, Saudi Arabia and general public. Packages Limited owns 33% of Tri-Pack Films Limited's equity.

In July, 1994, Coates Lorilleux Pakistan Limited (currently DIC Pakistan Limited) in which Packages Limited has 55% ownership, commenced production and sale of printing inks.

During the same year, the Company initiated the capacity expansion of its paper and board mill to 65,000 tons per year and conversion capacity to 56,000 tons per year. At the same time, the Company also upgraded the quality of Packages’ products and substantially improved pollution control to meet the World Bank environmental guidelines. The said expansion was completed in 1998 at a cost of PKR 2.7 billion.

In 1996, Packages entered into a joint venture agreement with Printcare (Ceylon) Limited for the production of flexible packaging materials in Sri Lanka. The project Packages Lanka (Private) Limited, in which Packages Limited has 79% ownership, commenced production in 1998.

During 1999-2000, Packages successfully completed the expansion of the flexible packaging line by installing a new rotogravure printing machine and enhancing the carton line by putting up a new Lemanic rotogravure inline printing and cutting creasing machine. In addition, a new 8 color flexo graphic printing machine was also installed in the flexible packaging line in 2001.

Packages started producing corrugated boxes from its plant in Karachi from 2002.

In 2005, the company embarked upon its Paper & Board expansion plan at a new site (Bulleh Shah Paper Mills), almost tripling its capacity from the current 100,000 tons per annum to 300,000 tons per annum. Capacity expansion at Bulleh Shah Paper Mills was completed in two phases., In the first phase, Brown Board Machine PM-6 along-with high yield straw pulping & OCC plants and its back processes such as 11 MW Power House, Gas Turbine and Primary Effluent Treatment were capitalized and commercial operations were commenced during the year 2007. Second phase comprising of Writing and Printing Paper Machine PM-7, De-inking Pulp Plant, 41MW Power House, Steam Turbine and Secondary Effluent Treatment Plant was completed in the year 2009.

In 2008, the Company embarked upon capacity expansion in its tissue division through installation of a new tissue paper manufacturing machine PM-9 with production capacity of 31,000 tonnes. With this capacity expansion, the Company is now in a position to take benefit from export potential of tissue products in the international market, particularly the Middle East.

During 2011, a lamination machine was installed in the flexible department at a cost of PKR 96 million. This is Pakistan’s first high speed solvent-less automatic lamination machine. It has turret winders for automatic reel and a capacity of 450 meters per minute.

Paper Machine PM-6 rebuild project was completed in the second quarter of 2011 leading to capacity expansion of 30,000 tons. The machine started commercial operations with enhanced capability of producing high value added liquid packaging and bleached board.

Moreover, the Corrugator Machine in Kasur Plant was upgraded in 2011 to improve efficiency, reliability, enhance capacity and reduce waste. This up-grade activity has resulted in increased capacity of 14%.

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