ISLAMABAD: Retail cement prices recorded an uptick across Pakistan during the past week, a development likely to impact construction activity as well as end consumers, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
PBS figures show that during the week ending December 11, the average retail price of cement increased in both northern and southern regions, though rates varied from city to city. In northern cities, the average price stood at Rs1,389 per bag, reflecting an increase of Rs10 compared to the previous week when cement was selling at an average of Rs1,379 per bag.
Industry experts attribute the rise in northern regions to growing demand and a steady increase in production costs, particularly energy and transportation expenses, which continue to exert pressure on manufacturers.
A similar upward trend was observed in southern cities, where the average retail price reached Rs1,445 per bag during the reported week, marking a 0.29 percent increase from Rs1,441 per bag recorded a week earlier. Prices in southern regions typically remain higher than in the north, largely due to longer transportation distances and elevated logistics costs.
City-wise data indicate that cement prices averaged Rs1,367 per bag in Islamabad, Rs1,361 in Rawalpindi, Rs1,420 in Gujranwala, Rs1,400 in Sialkot, Rs1,488 in Lahore and Rs1,380 in Faisalabad. In Sargodha and Multan, the average price was Rs1,397 per bag, while Bahawalpur and Sialkot recorded around Rs1,400. Peshawar saw prices at Rs1,370 per bag, whereas Bannu reported the lowest rate among northern cities at Rs1,300 per bag.
In southern markets, the average retail price stood at Rs1,378 per bag in Karachi, Rs1,428 in Hyderabad, Rs1,525 in Sukkur, Rs1,407 in Larkana, Rs1,490 in Quetta and Rs1,443 in Khuzdar.
The continued increase in cement prices comes at a time when the construction sector is already facing multiple challenges, raising concerns over further cost escalation in ongoing and upcoming infrastructure and housing projects.
