The latest data on Pakistan's Large Scale Manufacturing Sector (LSMS), released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, shows overall growth of 5.5 per cent during the first six months ie, July-Dec 2017 compared with the same period of last year.
The government and industry officials' attribute the growth in the overall manufacturing sector largely to an increase in local demand of products including cement, which is growing on the back of strong domestic dispatches.
According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan's cement industry saw growth of 10.29 per cent to 20.12Mt during July-Dec 2017, from 18.25Mt in the same period a year earlier.
Furthermore, in Dec 2017 alone, cement production rose by 5.91 per cent to 3.459Mt from 3.266Mt, produced in December 2016.
The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association stated, "the sector is performing well and contributing a hefty amount to the national exchequer, which perhaps is the reason for complacency of the government."
