SIALKOT: The owners of brick kilns have increased the brick rates in Sialkot district, due to which the people, especially builders, are facing problems in getting bricks at reasonable prices.

They also complained the the owners have created a shortage of bricks. This situation has badly affected the ongoing projects, as these projects are being delayed due to the shortage of bricks.

Some owners of the kilns said that they were forced to increase the rates of bricks due to the prevailing price hike of the material associated with the kiln business. They added that the “fresh taxation” announced in federal and provincial budgets would prove fatal for the sector.

Sialkot-based trader Abdul Majeed said he started the construction of his house last month. He visited a few kilns and every kiln gave a different rate. They demanded Rs10,000 to 12,000 per 1,000 bricks from him.

Local builder Muhammad Aslam said that the situation also badly affected the under-completion construction works in the Sialkot region as well.

The district administration of Sialkot has fixed rate of bricks at Rs7,500 per 1,000 for public sale.

Builders said that most of the owners of the kiln were buying bricks from Burewala, Vehari and Sargodha instead of running their own kilns. They said imported bricks were cheaper from those manufactured locally. The labourers at these bricks kilns have also complained that though the owners have increased the rates of the bricks by creating shortage of the bricks, they did not increase their wages. Builders demanded that the district administration take action against the kiln owners.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2019