Iranian cement harming local industry

E-Paper | June 06, 2026

KARACHI: Manufacturers claimed on Friday that smuggled Iranian cement, being sold at 40 per cent lower prices, was eating away the market share of domestically produced cement.

Markets in areas adjacent to the border and coastal areas of Balochistan are flooded with Iranian cement which sells for much less than the Rs525-550 price of a 50kg bag of local cement, All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) said.

In a letter to Federal Secretary Commerce Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, APCMA chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba urged the Ministry of Commerce to suspend cement imports through land routes into Pakistan, and further suggested the Iranian government to seek quality approval from Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) before imports could be resumed at statutory duties.

He said that smuggling of Iranian cement into Pakistan through land routes continues unabated.

Some 2,000 tonnes of Iranian cement smuggled into Pakistan through Taftaan, Post 250, and Mand customs check-posts, the association alleged.

It added that it happens in connivance with custom authorities, ‘who charge these duties for only a token small quantity’.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2015

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Asad

Nov 21, 2015 06:47am

The only thing i understand from this is that the local industrialist must be making unreasonably high profit for such a price differential to exist.

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zafar

Nov 21, 2015 06:56am

Looks like the Sharifs, the Zardaris and the Manshas don't have a stake in the cement industry!

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Baba

Nov 21, 2015 07:13am

Bring the prices to a affordable to common needy people the smuggling will automatically ceased otherwise it should be encouraged by all of us.

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Msadiq

Nov 21, 2015 08:32am

Local cement companies are ripping us off !

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Nov 21, 2015 08:45am

APCMA should stop fleecing the consumers.

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Iqbal

Nov 21, 2015 09:03am

Look at the price of local product Rs 550. That's zulm!!!

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Nov 21, 2015 09:24am

Iranian cement is at 40% discount. Are the taxes on local cement that high or the pak local cement industry is very inefficient. Really troubling that after the transport cost from Iran + the bribes at the border the cost would still be 40% lower for Iranian cement.

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M khan

Nov 21, 2015 09:50am

Let it come, it is good for the consumer. let us break monopolies of Pakistani cement producer.

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AKB

Nov 21, 2015 09:57am

The prices of cement have been raised to more than double as compared to the previous government. The Government should reduce the prices so that it can compete with Iranian cement.

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Naman

Nov 21, 2015 10:14am

That is a travesty. Shame on them. It was divine right of the cement cartel to rip off Pakistani Market by collusion, price fixing and cartelization. Iranians should not be given the opportunity to fleece cement manufacturers by giving Pakistani customers right to choose. Market pricing is acceptable as long as it works in own favor!

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Nov 21, 2015 10:23am

Pain of being the most important geo strategic location in the world.

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Nov 21, 2015 10:26am

Import restrictions and custom duties should be removed on not just cement from Iran but also on all commodities and products for the sole benefit of the consumers/public. The manufacturers in Pakistan need to learn how to compete without government protections otherwise get out of business. The government should be protecting the public.

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Mudasser

Nov 21, 2015 10:39am

@zafar Mansha is the biggest manufacturer of cement in Pakistan. That's why the cement cartel is untouchable. In fact Iranian cement imports should be encouraged in order to break this cartel and give relief to the consumers of cement.

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Riz

Nov 21, 2015 11:13am

Cement Sector did not pass on the advantage to their consumers of Energy Prices cut down which is almost 60% of the cost. We should encourage the Iranian Cement against this cartel. They earned more than their appetizer.

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John

Nov 21, 2015 11:51am

Y cant Pakistani manufacturers keep cement prices down? Simple question!

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Nasir

Nov 21, 2015 12:54pm

Good, I hope our pollution spreading cement factories run of business, who don't care for the health of the public. Keep sending more cement from Iran.

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Riaz

Nov 21, 2015 01:25pm

Cement, sugar, steel, everything in Pakistan is a monopoly operating under invisible cartels with a low quality product, maxim profit and fleecing of customers. Iranian cement with a 40% lower price tag is a blessing for ordinary customer and a slap in the face of the cement cartel. Pakistan has always been associated with abysmal quality in every type of manufacture, so no problem with the quality of Iranian cement, even its bad quality will be better than the Pakistani product.

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Asif

Nov 21, 2015 02:56pm

Looks like the effects of CPEC project are showing up early. Once the traffic starts the Chinese goods will be dumped into Pakistan.

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Architect Ilyas Khan

Nov 21, 2015 04:19pm

2000 tons only and a storm in the teacup!

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Vectra

Nov 21, 2015 04:47pm

Why pakistan local industry bodies and always blame India and Iran for doing loss when they are fine with China dumping cheap goods.

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Larka

Nov 21, 2015 04:52pm

@zafar Mansha has big stake owning D.G Khan Cement Factory.

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Krindra

Nov 21, 2015 05:27pm

Superior quality cement of 50kg Portland cement bag does not cost beyond Rs.400 INR..improve bilateral trade ties & benefitted..

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AbbasToronto

Nov 21, 2015 05:59pm

Either local producers are inefficient, or their profits are too high. Competition from Iran is good, unless there is dumping will collusion from Iranian Govt, an unlikely situation given its cash situation because of low oil prices. Improve or die.

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BNS

Nov 21, 2015 07:40pm

And how come the Iranian product can sell at 40% less price even after paying for transportation and illegal payments involved in smuggling? That means either cost of production or the profit margins for Pakistani cement are unrealistically high. None of the two situations is healthy. I think the relevant ministry should ask the cement manufacturers to explain the reasons for above and in the absence of a convincing explanation, should allow Pakistani importers import Iranian cement and let Pakistani manufacturers compete?

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Mohammad Fida

Nov 21, 2015 09:02pm

could contain chemical that for longer time interacting with air may produce hazardous fumes undetectable with human eyes or feeling but in long term can hurt health. Asbestos used in Canadian homes was detected producing similar reaction harmful for human dwelling in and been removed with a long tiring strategy while making legislation not to use such stuff in construction industry. We should have legislation on dwelling places construction too allowing and banning various chemical for human safety.

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M.Saeed

Nov 21, 2015 10:47pm

Cement priced at Rs. 11 per KG? Is it sanity?

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MARX

Nov 21, 2015 10:50pm

The Industrialists of Pakistan see the end of monopoly over the prices of their products and that is the reason they oppose trade with other countries. They pay minimum to their labours and extract maximum from the consumers.

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TirahWal

Nov 21, 2015 11:15pm

what a pity situation, Cement is imported into the rocky Balochistan where number of cement factories can be installed and above that imported cement is way cheaper than locally available cement. Everywhere and in every field in pak there is disappointment element. Incompetence is at its best in pak

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XYZ-Indian

Nov 21, 2015 11:40pm

It is really good news as a consumer, India is looking for cements, what I understand Pakistan cement rates is less than India, Iran further less than Pakistan. want to know about China.

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Nov 22, 2015 12:09am

@M.Saeed Its 8 rupees a kg in India.

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Abdul Karim

Nov 22, 2015 12:46am

You say that Iranian product is bad for our economy because it's cheap!? Wait until CPEC is complete and the Chinese to come it.

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two nations

Nov 22, 2015 01:17am

Even Iranian cement is costly at rs 550 per bag. Branded (Birla, ambuja, jk etc.) indian cement is inr 300 or less which is in Pakistani rupee 480. Goo luck!!!

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dodddd

Nov 22, 2015 05:51am

actually you should manufacture the product that you can provide at lower price. Take cement from Iran at 40% less price and sell something else to them at lower price than they buy now

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ZTech

Nov 22, 2015 06:05am

It's harming Fauji cement yes. Plz allow legal import with 15% tax so that cement is available everywhere. Let the local industry compete.

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murielbolongo

Nov 22, 2015 06:14am

@MARX right, since 96. lol. hello 88

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Meow

Nov 22, 2015 07:57am

Surprised that even Bangladesh has lesser cost for every cement of bag

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Faisal

Nov 22, 2015 08:53pm

Iran currency conversion is =0.0035 Pakistani Rupee unreasonable high profit by local manufacturers leading high price differential which leading to smuggling.

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