Pak cement cos in fix over export to India

KARACHI: Cement manufacturers in Pakistan are unsure whether they have been granted permission to export cement to India or not.

According to reports, Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Paul had announced the export permission to three Pakistani cement companies, but the cement industry is yet to confirm this report.

"I am not sure. I cannot confirm it," The News quoted an executive at Lucky Cement, as saying.

"The price of cement in India is increasing rapidly, and our exports at competitive rates would slowly gain pace," said a senior official at Attock Cement.

On Tuesday, while addressing the fourth meeting on Economic and Commercial Cooperation between India and Pakistan under the Framework of Composite Dialogue in New Delhi, Indian Commerce Secretary G K Pillai said that Pakistan can export cement to India.

Pakistan's exports to India grew to $323.19 million in 2006-2007 from $94.97 million in 2004-2005 and $177.48 million in 2005-2006, at a compounded annual growth of more than 70 per cent.