April 29, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1428

ISLAMABAD, April 28: India is considering a proposal to import cement from Pakistan to meet its local shortage, said President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Nasir Khan.

He said the proposal was discussed at length during a meeting with Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath in New Delhi recently. The delegation also discussed five-year multiple visa for Pakistani businessmen.

According to a press release of the chamber, the Indian minister informed the delegation that annual production of cement in India was around 120 million tons, whereas the demand is about 140 million tons.

He said that India was facing shortage of 20m tons of cement per annum and is looking to import cement from Pakistan. Mr Nath said that India was not installing any cement plant in next 3-4 years, whereas the demand is increasing by 11pc a year and asked the Pakistani cement manufacturers for supply of cement to India.

The delegation also took up the matter of 500 tons consignment of Lucky Cement, which was stopped at the Indian port due to inspection by Indian agencies. The Indian minister on the request of ICCI immediately ordered the release of the consignment.

He promised to look into the ICCI proposal for the inspection of cement consignment by International agencies like Cotecna, SGS etc instead of inspection by the Indian agencies.