September 08, 2008

India to import Pakistani cement to control prices

It is reported that Indian government is considering the import of 92,000 tonnes of cement from Pakistan to shore up domestic stocks and stabilize prices of the commodity.

Dr Ashwani Kumar union minister of state for commerce & industry said that "The retail price of imported cement from Pakistan varies from INR 200 to INR 220 per 50 kilogram bag, as compared to the average prevailing price of INR 231 per bag of indigenously produced cement."

Mr Kumar noted that the Pakistani cement, which would be imported through the Minerals & Metals Trading Corporation, would have to conform to quality norms set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.