The price of a 50 kg bag of cement in Pakistan has skyrocketed, with increases of up to Rs207 observed within a week, according to the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Currently, the price has soared to Rs1,500 per bag nationwide, marking significant hikes particularly in Lahore and Peshawar.
In just one week, prices in Larkana spiked by Rs207, followed closely by Peshawar with a Rs177 increase, Bannu at Rs163, and Quetta at Rs160 per bag. Sargodha and Multan witnessed hikes of Rs160 and Rs155 respectively, while Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore saw prices surge by Rs151 and Rs150 per bag. Other notable increases include Gujranwala at Rs147, Faisalabad at Rs140, and Sialkot at Rs130. Meanwhile, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi experienced price hikes of Rs120 and Rs107 respectively, with Khuzdar seeing a more modest increase of Rs23 per bag.
This surge in cement prices follows the recent revision in Federal Excise Duty, raised from Rs3 to Rs4 per kg in the federal budget. Notably, Pakistan’s cement sector reported a significant 72.16% increase in exports during May 2024, reaching 917,962 tons compared to 533,215 tons last year, as reported by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA).
