May 10, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1427

ISLAMABAD, May 9: Pakistan’s cement output fell by 18 per cent to 1.5 million tons in April from the March level, but output for the 10 months through April was 11 per cent higher than a year ago, an industry spokesman said on Tuesday.

Cement production during the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2005-06 was recorded at 14.85 million tons, up from 13.38m tons in the corresponding year-ago period, Shahzad Ahmed, secretary general of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), said.

Out of the total production, 1.44 million tons were sold domestically, while 51,393 tons were exported, Mr Ahmed said.

Exports during the 10-month period declined slightly to 1.21 million tons, compared with 1.27 million tons in the same period last year, he added.

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in cement demand in recent months from a construction industry feeding off Pakistan’s rapid economic expansion. This has resulted in supply shortages, and sharp rises in prices.

—Reuters