SWABI: The number of cement block factories has been increased in Swabi district over the last two years due to the growing brick prices.

The local residents, who recently built houses or are carrying out construction activity, say brick prices have surged so much that they have to turn to cement blocks as good alternative.

An official of the local works and services department said until a year ago, the district had only a few block making factories but the number had increased to over 1,500.

He said more such manufacturing units could appear in the district over the growing demand for cement blocks.

Zar Wali Khan, owner of a block factory in Shagahi, said the use of cement blocks had increased many times over the years and therefore, he often took time to deliver orders.He said the people preferred to use blocks for being cheaper than bricks.

“A block covers a space of six bricks, while in block buildings, small quantity of cement is used compared with those made of bricks,” he said.

According to him, bricks made in Peshawar sell at Rs7,000 per 1000 units in the district, while the local brick manufactures charge Rs6,800 for the same.

A 1,000 blocks sell at Rs2,100.

Builders say construction blocks are popular first because they are bigger in size compared to bricks and second because they cover more space than bricks.

Also, blocks take less time in the making than bricks.

Some consider buildings made up of blocks not durable. Rohal Amin, a builder of Topi city, said he used bricks in buildings as they were more durable than blocks.

Salahuddin of Maini village complained of higher brick and construction material prices, which, he said, had stressed out the people intending to build own houses.

Brick kiln owners said they had never increased brick prices on their own and the growing taxes and production cost were to blame.

They said whenever the government increased taxes or imposed new taxes, the prices of bricks went up.