KARACHI: All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) Chairman Mohammad Ali Tabba has urged the Indian high commissioner to intervene in the matter of renewal of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) licences which has impeded export of Pakistani cement to India.

In a letter to the HC, he said the APCMA members have been experiencing delay in the renewal / certification process for more than two years now due to security concerns of BIS despite the fact that several applications were made to the bureau on prescribed forms with payment of all dues well before the expiration of required certifications.

Pakistan has been exporting cement to India since 2007 for which prerequisite is BIS certification that is issued for a period of one or two years to Pakistani manufacturers after physical verification of production process.

Mr Tabba said despite several assurances by cement manufacturers to provide full security to the bureau representatives, five cement factories have not yet been visited by the said representatives.

Pakistani cement finds way to India through Wagha border, but it has been witnessing a downward trend.

In Jan 2014, cement export to India stood at 39,017 tonnes as compared to 101,369 tonnes in January 2008.