LAKKI MARWAT: Lucky Cement Limited reported net profit of PKR 10.42 billion for the nine months ended March 31, 2017 which is 8.4% higher as compared to the same period last year. Consequently, the earnings per share (EPS) for the nine months increased to PKR 32.23 compared to PKR 29.73 reported during the same period last year. The company’s net sales revenue increased by 5.4% to PKR 35.24 billion compared to PKR 33.43 billion reported during the same period last year. The increase in net sales revenue was mainly attributable to increase in sales volume. The local sales volume of the Company during the nine months registered a growth of 18.6% to 4.60 million tons compared to 3.88 million tons reported during the same period last year, whereas export sales volume registered a decline of 23.9% to 0.93 million tons compared to 1.23 million tons reported during the same period last year. On a consolidated basis, Lucky Cement reported net profit of PKR 12.05 billion for the nine months ended March 31, 2017 which is 9.3% higher as compared to the same period last year. Consequently, consolidated EPS during the nine months increased to PKR 37.27 compared to PKR 34.11 reported during the same period last year. Lucky Cement also reported progress on its key local and international projects i.e. brown field expansion (installation of new production line) at Karachi Plant, fully integrated green field Cement Manufacturing Plant in Punjab province, investment in automobile Manufacturing plant under license from KIA Motors Corporation, brown field expansion in Cement Grinding unit in Republic of Iraq, 1 X 660 MW, supercritical coal based power project at Port Qasim. Further, the Company also announced successful commissioning and start of operations of 10 MW WHR plant (Kiln) at Pezu Plant. Lucky Cement continued to play significant role under the ambit of corporate social responsibility. In this regard, the Company extended numerous scholarships for various leading universities in Pakistan. Furthermore, Lucky Cement continued its support to Aziz Tabba Foundation and Pakistan Welfare Association of the Blind for the treatment of blind children. Under the domain of empowering women in the country, Lucky Cement continued its support for two leading Government girls’ schools in Karachi in collaboration with Zindagi Trust.