LAHORE, Aug 1: The Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) is planning to upgrade the testing and research & development (R&D) facilities at the Cement Research and Development Institute (CRDI) with an objective to ensure availability of quality raw material for the construction industry.

This was decided at a meeting held here to discuss ways to upgrade the facilities at the centre established by the State Cement Corporation of Pakistan (SCCP) in 1983. The meeting presided over by TUSDEC Chairman Almas Hyder was attended among others by the officials from the CRDI, representatives of the construction and consultancy firms, research institutions and cement manufacturing units.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr Hyder said it was high time that steps be taken to strengthen the testing, calibration and R&D facilities at the cement research institute as there had been phenomenal increase in the demand for cement due to increased construction activity at home and exports to the neighbouring countries like Afghanistan.

He said the government was very supportive to the efforts for the upgradation of technology in the industrial sector to help make the country’s products competitive in the international market.

Mr Hyder also suggested holding of a seminar on cement industry to seek the input from stakeholders of this vital large-scale industry. A four-member committee comprising Muhammad Jehangir (NESPAK), Arshad Mehmood (DESCON), Kafil Ahmad (University of Engineering and Technology) and Dr Abdul Majeed (cement technology expert) was constituted to review the quality of the available cement and concrete testing facilities in the country and to suggest additional equipment required for the cement research institute.

Dr Abdul Majid while talking about the technological problems facing the country’s cement industry said that the cement product range in Pakistan was very narrow as compared to the countries like China. He said the use of blended cement was on the rise in the developed regions of the world.