The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) will holding a meeting with Minister for Industries and Production Jahangir Khan Tareen on Thursday to review cement prices and resumption of rebated export to Afghanistan.
The official spokesman for the Industries Ministry, Tariq Bajwa, told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the meeting would review the prevalent cement prices which were already showing declining trend in the local market before the opening of unlimited import from across the world.
Asked if there was any possibility of ban on import, he said: "This is out of the question until the prices come down to Rs 280 per bag in the domestic market."
He hinted that cement export to Kabul could be resumed, as Pakistan would not like to lose a good market, and added that it all depended on the price situation over a longer period of time in the local market.
He, however, hoped that prices would come to a reasonable level in the local market in the coming days as imported cement had started coming. He said that in addition to this, new cement plants would start operation within a couple of months, which would also be instrumental in price rationalisation.
When referred to Dr Ashfaque Hassan's view that import would continue till price came down to Rs 270 to Rs 272 per bag on sustained basis, Bajwa said that prices of different brands differed but the range of Rs 280 per bag meant Rs 270 to 272.
Another official of the ministry said that cement prices would be reviewed by the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on May 22, which would most probably consider resumption of export to Kabul. But it was not confirmed by other sources.