Pakistan to set up construction and infrastructure board 

An indirect development may stimulate demands for cement in country, following meeting of stakeholders in Islamabad yesterday.
 
A delegation of Construction Association of Pakistan, headed by Eng Arshad Dad Khan, called on Prime Minister, Imran Khan, at his office, wherein Minister for Planning, Asad Umar, was also present during the meeting.
 
The delegation appreciated the vision of the prime minister in approving the construction sector as 'industry' and the steps being taken by the present government towards meeting the existing demand for low-cost housing in the country.

While briefing Pakistan's prime minister about the issues being faced by the constructors, the delegation proposed various steps to address these issues. These included establishment of Construction and Infrastructure Board, setting up of Office of Procurement Ombudsman, capacity building of local construction industry, revisiting tax regime, review of laws and audit procedures and lack of standardisation.
 
Imran Khan welcomed the suggestions and observed that the present government is committed to provide an enabling environment to the construction industry. He approved, in principle, the establishment of Construction and Infrastructure Board which he said would be instrumental in addressing the issues being faced by the constructors.
 
The prime minister also directed Secretary Planning to formulate a construction development policy for facilitating all stakeholders including contractors, clients and consultants.