The Pakistan Government will provide a freight subsidy to imported cement, including from India. The amount of subsidy will be about Rs (Pakistani) 60 per 40 kg bag.

While the subsidy will apply to cement imported through any mode, rail, road and sea, the Pakistan Railway, it is learnt, will offer freight concession as well as priority loading, particularly to move the product to upcountry destinations.

According to report doing the rounds, Pakistan will import from India cement equivalent to about 10,000 wagons and discussions were recently held between visiting Pakistani trade delegation and its counterpart in New Delhi. Indian traders, as a goodwill gesture, have agreed to supply cement to Pakistan at a reasonable rate, it is learnt. The first consignment of cement from India is expected to reach Pakistan soon, most probably towards the end of this month.