KARACHI: Some people are demanding zero duty on cement imports, which will be devastating for the local industry, All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) Chairman Sayeed Tariq Saigol said on Wednesday, according to a press release.

He said the people demanding the removal of the duty should see the fate of local industries like tiles and tyres in the wake of the reduction in import tariffs because energy costs in Pakistan are the highest in the region.

Abolishing the import duty will not only hurt investments by existing manufacturers and new entrants, but also endanger the livelihood of workers, he said.

Growth in the cement industry has already been ‘vulnerable’ owing to the smuggled and under-invoiced import of cement while its exports declined to the lowest level in November, he said. Cement smuggling from Iran has been causing a substantial loss to the national exchequer, he added.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2016