11 April 2005
Cairo (MER) - Paksitan's Prime minister, Shawkat Aziz, has laid the foundation for the cement factory which is partly constructed by Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) in Pakistani Chakwal city, according to the stock market's news service.

The maximum production of the new factory is 6,700 tons of cement per day and it is due to start production in March 2006.

In November 2004, the OCI Cement Group finalized negotiations for the acquisition of a controlling 51% stake in Chakwal Cement Company in Pakistan.

Upon completion, Chakwal Cement will be the largest cement producer in Pakistan, which is currently the main source of cement for reconstruction process in Afghanistan. [EW-FC]

© MER (Middle East Reporter) 2005