Ayesha Saba
Pakistan’s construction industry has consistently demonstrated its ability to create jobs, stimulate allied industries, and contribute significantly to GDP, but realising its full potential requires targeted efforts to address existing challenges and incentivise investments.
Speaking to WealthPK, Ammar Qureshi, Financial Officer at Rawaha Estate and Builders, a real estate developer, said despite its importance in economic growth, the sector lacks an institutional approach toward its development and regulation. “Political upheavals, massive rupee devaluation, high policy rates, higher taxes, and extremely high prices of electricity have led to closure of many export-oriented businesses,” he noted.
“Effective fiscal policies need to be implemented to address these challenges,” he said. Qureshi further recommended offering attractive financial packages, including tax rebates and subsidies, to uplift the construction sector. “Additionally, access to affordable loans should be facilitated for developers and homebuyers. Public-private partnerships should play a central role in this transformation.”
The real estate developer said collaboration between the government and private stakeholders can accelerate the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring efficiency and sustainability in execution. “The development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC offers a unique opportunity to leverage the construction sector for broader economic benefits,” he said, stressing that robust infrastructure is vital for these SEZs.
“Access roads, smooth energy and water supply, and waste management are essential for smooth operations at these zones. Without these facilities, even attractive tax incentives may fail to draw investors. Efficient logistics within the zones are equally critical to ensure seamless transportation of materials and goods,” Qureshi underscored.
Cement exports were recorded at $167.472 million during the July-December period of the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25 against the exports of $135.925 million over the corresponding period of 2023-24, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In terms of quantity, cement exports also rose by 33.82% from 3,505,672 metric tonnes to 4,691,376 metric tonnes in 6MFY25, the data revealed.
Year-on-year, cement exports witnessed an increase of 45.47% during the month of December 2024 as compared to the same month of last year. Cement exports in December 2024 were recorded at $31.898 million against the exports of $21.927 million in December 2023. On a month-on-month basis, cement exports also rose by 3.04% in December 2024 when compared to the exports of $30.957 million in November 2024, the PBS data showed.
Credit: INP-WealthPk