Pakistan government urged to facilitate exports

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has said that Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) are hampering cement exports and has urged the government to explore new markets for the growth of the industry in the country.

Speaking to the Nation, ICCI president Yasir Sakhi Butt, said: “The local cement industry needs attention as its growth is considered a major indicator of economic activity," with regard to decreasing exports. He believes that new export destinations should be explored and stated that Sri Lanka has also shown interest in importing huge quantity of cement from Pakistan every month.

If the industry is able to avail the opportunity offered, it may secure a significant share of Sri Lanka market by supplying required quantity of cement annually, he added.

He said cement is one of the major commodities that is abundantly available in Pakistan and can be exported to neighbouring countries even through the land route. However, he added, the country’s cement sector still faces non-tariff barriers at Indian borders, despite various measures taken by the government to enhance bilateral trade between two countries.

“Cement export to India can take a quantum jump if the non-tariff barriers are removed,” he said.

He said that the cement sector is contributing above PKR30bn to  the national exchequer in the form of taxes and serving the nation by providing job opportunities to more than 150,000 people.

Thus, there is a dire need that all cement units should operate at their maximum capacity and play its vital role in the building up the country’s economy as well as earn foreign exchange.

But it would only be possible if neighbouring countries remove tariff and non-tariff barriers on Pakistani cement, he maintained.