MOSCOW: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has requested the Ministry of Commerce to suspend the import of cement through land routes into Pakistan, and also asked the Iranian government to seek quality approval from PSQCA, before imports could be resumed at statutory duties.
In a letter to Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, Federal Secretary Commerce, Chairman APCMA Muhammad Ali Tabba stated that despite bringing it to the notice of Customs authorities, the smuggling of Iranian cement into Pakistan through land routes continues unabated.
Gradually increasing quantities are now at an alarmingly high level reaching about 2,000 tons per day. Coming through the Taftaan, Post 250, and Mand customs check-posts, the cement consignments are being allowed in without paying the statutory customs duty and other federal levies, in connivance with customs authorities, who charge these duties for only a token small quantity while the bulk comes in without paying the statutory charges.
As a result, the letter stated, the local market in the areas adjacent to the Iranian border as well as the coastal area of Balochistan is flooded with cheap Iranian cement. Consequently, domestically produced cement is fast losing market, as it is unable to compete with this Iranian cement which sells at 40 percent lower price compared to the domestically produced cement.
It is worth adding here that the industry is already in a tough situation due to rise in input cost and Iranian cement’s inroad in Pakistani market is adding to the miseries of local manufacturers. “The local cement industry supporting half a million households directly and indirectly must be given protection against the Iranian cement not only to save the jobs of hundreds of thousands of associated workforce but also to save precious foreign exchange,” chairman APCMA said.
