KARACHI: Construction activities appear to have revived as local cement sales grew 47 per cent during July to 2.776 million tonnes from 1.887m tonnes in the same month last year.

Exports also surged by 184pc to 435,854 tonnes from 153,517 tonnes. As a result, total cement despatches (local and exports) soared by 57.44pc to 3.212m tonnes from 2.040mn tonnes.

A spokesman of All Pakistan Cement Manufac­turers Association (APCMA) emphasised that country’s economic stability depends on a stable government. The start of FY24 looks good but in fact, the domestic despatches in July were almost 20pc less than June.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023