Shalimar Cements

Shalimar Cements is right there at the main stop in Pooni Chak. If you know the Radha Krishan Mandir, you can’t miss us because we’re very close to it. Being in Jammu, the summers get really hot, and moving cement bags in that heat is tough work. We have people coming in all day asking about prices for their home repairs. The place is usually covered in a thin layer of grey dust, no matter how much we sweep. It’s just the nature of the business. The trucks pull up near the temple and we have to unload them quickly so they don’t block the road. Distt Jammu is a busy place and Pooni Chak is no different. We spend a lot of time just sitting on the stools waiting for the next delivery. Sometimes the bells from the Mandir are quite loud, but it’s a nice sound to work to. We don't have a big corporate office or anything, just a small space with some chairs for customers to sit while we talk. The walls could use a fresh coat of paint but we haven’t gotten around to it yet. It’s mostly just us and the local laborers helping out. Life goes on at a steady pace here. We know most of the neighbors and the people who walk by every day. It’s a simple trade but it keeps us busy from morning until evening. Sometimes we share a tea with the drivers while they rest.