All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation, which is threatening their heavy investments. “The law and order situation in Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kohat, Mianwali, and adjacent areas has seriously jeopardised the day-to-day operations of the cement units,” said the APCMA spokesman.

He added that recently, terrorists kidnapped some workers of a cement unit in one of the areas mentioned above, and they killed one of them. Terrorist are generally demanding huge amounts of money as extortion and give warnings of serious consequences in case their demands are not met. 

“This is a serious situation, and the government should take strict measures to control and manage the law and order situation in those areas,” the spokesman said. He added that the cement industry is in the expansion phase, and heavy investments have been planned, which could jeopardise the industry’s long-term viability.

“Besides, the industry’s investment of billions of rupees in the said areas has also been endangered by these terrorist activities,” said the spokesman.

He added that this deteriorating law and order situation could threaten local employment and create unrest in the said locality.

The cement industry is amongst the highest contributors to the national exchequer, contributing approximately PKR 240 billion in taxes in FY 2022-23. Furthermore, the cement industry also earns valuable foreign exchange by exporting cement, and such exports in the year 2022-23 clocked in at approximately USD 210 million.

The APCMA spokesman appealed to the government to immediately take strict measures to establish peace in the said areas in order to save the industry’s investments and employment base.