Cement manufacturers in the Northern region have pushed up price of 50 kg bag of cement by PKR40 after the budget to PKR285-290 from PKR245-250, according to local reports. In other parts of the Northern region, a 50 kg bag was available at PKR280-285 as compared pre-budget price at PKR260-265. However, cement makers in Southern region said they have not raised prices yet.
Chairman, All-Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association, Asmat Ullah Khan Niazi, linked the price-hikes to the April power tariff increase of six to seven per cent following the coal price hike to US$115-120 per ton from US$103 per ton within a month.
Last year, when coal was available at $80-85 per ton the cement bag was selling at PKR240 per 50 kg bag.
