Technology Up-gradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) is planning to upgrade testing and research and development facilities at Cement Research and Development Institute (CRDI) with an objective to ensure the availability of quality raw materials, like cement, for the country’s booming construction industry. In this regard, a meeting was held here to discuss ways to upgrade the facilities at the centre established by State Cement Corporation of Pakistan.
 
The meeting presided over by chairman TUSDEC Almas Hyder, was attended, among others, by the officials from CRDI, representatives of construction and consultancy firms, research institutions and cement manufacturing units. 
 
Speaking on this occasion, Almas Hyder said that it was high time to strengthen the testing, calibration and research and development facilities at the cement research institute, as there had been phenomenal increase in the demand of the cement due to increased construction activity at home and its exports to the neighbouring countries, like Afghanistan. 
 
He said that the present government was very supportive to the efforts for the upgrade of technology in the industrial sector to help make the country’s products competitive in the international market.  He suggested the holding of a seminar on cement industry to seek the input from stakeholders of this vital large-scale industry. 
 
A four-member committee comprising Muhammad Jehangir (NESPAK), Arshad Mehmood (DESCON), Kafil Ahmad (University of Engineering and Technology) and Dr Abdul Majeed (cement technology expert) was constituted, to review the available cement and concrete testing facilities in the country and to suggest the additional equipment required for the cement research institute 
 
Dr Abdul Majid, while talking about the technological problems in the country’s cement industry, said that the cement product range in Pakistan was very narrow as compared to the countries like China. He said that the use of blended cement was on rise in the West and other developed regions of the world. 
 
Ahmad Abid Mukhtar of Maple Leaf Cement said that there was need of manufacturing low-heat cement in the country. He said that CRDI should provide consultancy as well as testing services to the country’s cement industry.