Absorption-lasing effects and exceptional points in parity-time symmetric non-Hermitian metaplates

•Shunted PZT layers are used to construct non-Hermitian PT symmetric metaplates.•Coherent perfect absorption and lasing effects are achieved for flexural waves.•Exceptional points are employed to realize unidirectional cloakings.•Sensitivities of exceptional points and diabolic points are contrastively studied.