Upward Trend: Prices of bricks surge after GST regime

SIALKOT: Bricks kilns’ owners have increased the prices of good quality bricks by up to Rs3,000 after the imposition of 16 per cent General Sales Tax on them. Prices of good quality bricks have increased from Rs4,500 per thousand bricks to Rs7,000, while the prices of average quality bricks have also increased from Rs4,200 per thousand bricks to Rs6,500 in all four Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils.Following the increase in bricks’ prices, dealers have also raised the prices of cement, iron and iron rods. Cement is being sold at an inflated rate of Rs410 to 420 per bag against the fixed official rate of Rs370 per bag. On the other hand, iron merchants are selling iron at the rate of Rs74 per kilogramme against the fixed official rate of Rs63 per kilogramme. Due to this critical condition, the construction industry is being badly affected, as the construction works pace has been halted due to the ongoing inflated rates of bricks, cement and iron, in Sialkot district.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2011.