Demand for cement is expected to go up considerably due to mass repair works of damaged roads, bridges and houses in the recent rains and snowfall in the country. Chairman of Nooriabad Association of Trade and Industry (NATI) and Technical Director of Dadabhoy Cement Industry Fazal Karim Dadabhoy told newsmen on Tuesday that cement manufacturers have no intention to increase the prices in near feature. He said that development work going on in Gwadar has also increased cement demand.

He said that out of total cement produced the cement manufacturers managed to dispose of only 54 percent of their produce whereas 46 remain surplus but due to this increased demand the manufacturers have only 10 to 15 percent surplus of cement stock.

He said that there is no shortage of cement in the country.

He said that Pakistan is exporting around 0.225 million tons cement, out of which 70 percent is going to Afghanistan.

Fazal said that D G Khan Cement, Lucky Cement, Dadabhoy Cement, Pioneer Cement and Kohat Cement are expanding their production capacity and installing latest cement manufacturing plants. This additional capacity is expected to come into production in next three years.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005