A province-wide campaign has been launched in NWFP, Pakistan to stall the manufacturing and selling of unlicensed ordinary portland cement, as a result cement stocks in district Karak, NWFP, have been sealed.

The raids were conducted by District Co-ordination Officers (DCOs) an Capital Police Officers (CPOs) on the directives of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), which has the mandate to regulate quality control/assurance in the country.

PSQCA had written to DCO, Nowshera and CPO Peshawar on December 18 that Cherat Cement Co, who is manufacturing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), was involved in manufacturing, keeping in stock and sale of OPC. This was in violation of PSQCA Act of 1996 and hence an offence punishable with fines not less than Rs 50,000/- or imprisonment up-to one year or with both.

The PSQCA had desired that area police stations be directed to conduct raids
on the distributors (agency holders) of Cherat Cement in their area and
ensure that Cherat cement is not sold till they produce copy of valid
license issued by PSQCA.