Pakistan is to export 100,000 tons of cement to Dubai. The first shipment of 8,800 tons will leave Port Qasim on Thursday.
Source at Lucky Cement said on Tuesday that the company has been making export of cement to Afghanistan for the last two years but this is the first shipment by sea to the Middle East.
They said that balance cement would be shipped after the importer approves the sample, which is a private party.
Mohammad Saleem of National Terminal Stevedoring Company said that the balance cement would be shipped in four shipments after the importer gives go ahead. Earlier a representative of the importer visited Karachi to check the quality of the cement and the logistic arrangements.
He said that export of cement in a large quantity is due to some crisis in cement production in Dubai and the importer has also arranged imports of 100,000 tons of cement from Egypt.
Saleem said that if the sample is approved the balance 99,000 tons of cement would be shipped in four bigger shipments to be made after every fortnight.
Sources at Port Qasim confirmed that a Korean ship is loading 8,800 tons of cement for Dubai and is likely to sail on Thursday.
This is the first cement export shipment from the port after several years. The port made export shipments of wheat last year but due to shortages at home the export was not allowed this year.