Construction activities remained slow as local cement despatches fell year-on-year by 0.62 per cent in March and 3.81pc in 9MFY24, respectively. Local sales eased to 3.336 million tonnes from 3.357m tonnes in March 2023, showing a decline of 0.62pc. Export despatches, however, increased by 38pc to 605,142 tonnes from 438,433 tonnes a year ago. As a result, the overall cement despatches (loca