To provide a squeegee lifting mechanism which can more efficiently perform a squeegee lifting operation and a flat screen printing apparatus including the same.

The squeegee lifting mechanism in the flat screen printing apparatus 1 for printing a cloth C includes: a squeegee carrier 6; a timing belt 12 provided along the reciprocating direction of the squeegee carrier 6; pulleys 13a and 13b installed on the squeegee carrier 6; and a first and a second squeegees 7a and 7b supported by the squeegee carrier 6. The squeegee lifting mechanism is further provided with a transmission means which raises the squeegee 7b and descends the squeegee 7a by rotating the pulley 13a when the squeegee carrier 6 travels to the left, and descends the squeegee 7b and raises the squeegee 7a by rotating the pulley 13b when the squeegee carrier 6 travels to the right.