APCMA wants suspension of cement imports

All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has made a request to the Commerce Ministry to suspend the import of cement through land routes. The APCMA has also advised the Iranian government to seek quality approval from Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), before imports could be resumed at statutory duties.

APCMA Chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba said that despite bringing it to the notice of customs authorities, the Iranian cement smuggling continued into Pakistan through land routes. Moreover, the Iranian cement not of a certain quality, as it does not have any approval or standard marking by PSQCA.

The quantities are now at high level, reaching approximately 2000 tpd.

As a result the local market in the areas adjacent to the Iranian border as well as the coastal area of Baluchistan is flooded with cheap Iranian cement. As a result, domestically produced cement is fast losing market, as it is unable to compete with this Iranian cement which sells at 40% lower price compared to the domestically produced cement.

Edited from source by Joseph Green. Source: Daily Times, Tribune, The News

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/23112015/apcma-wants-suspension-cement-imports-48/