LAHORE: In Punjab, about 20% of brick kilns have been closed due to a decrease in construction activities and rising production costs, according to kiln owners.
The cost of producing one million bricks has increased from Rs. 7 million to Rs. 12 million in recent years due to an increase in the cost of coal, transportation, and mud per tractor-trolley.
As per the details, the prices of bricks are at their lowest level in the past five years, and construction activities have declined substantially due to the high cost of materials.
The Kiln Owners Association’s secretary general, Mehar Abdul Haq, reported that kiln owners are suffering a monthly loss of approximately Rs1.5 million.
Furthermore, thousands of workers are employed in brick kilns, and 20% of the units in Punjab are closed, while others are on the verge of shutting down due to continuous losses and a lack of sales.
According to sources, the total number of brick kilns in Punjab is 7,332.
A resident of the Manawan area of Lahore, Rana Aftab, started constructing his house in a private society three months ago, but he had to stop the work due to the high cost of construction materials.
The current price per thousand bricks is Rs. 11,500 in Lahore, and the cost of building a house is becoming difficult for the citizens due to rising inflation in the country.
Besides, the flood in South Punjab last year had also severely damaged a large number of brick kilns, and as the sector did not have the status of an industry, no assistance was offered by the government to revive the units, an owner said.
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