LAHORE (PPI) - The Pakistan Mercantile Exchange continued to grow at a rapid pace, as inn April 2011, the PMEX trading volumes for the first time exceeded the combined volumes of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Stock Exchanges in terms of the Rupee value traded. For the month of April, PMEX had a record trading volume of Rs.68.1 billon in comparison to the stock exchanges combined trading volume of Rs.66.2 billion. The turnover at PMEX has been growing very rapidly in the last two years. The April 2011 figure of Rs 68.1b reflects year-on-year growth of more than 800% as the comparative figure for April 2010 was Rs.8.4 billion. PMEXs increasing growth is coming about as a result of the continuous introduction of new products combined with low transaction costs and an efficient web based IT system that makes it very easy for brokers and their clients to transact and manage their trades. PMEX has also been holding roadshows in various parts of the country towards increasing awareness about the exchange and its benefits. In recent months the PMEX team has covered Hyderabad, Multan, Sadiqabad, Jhang, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. More events are planned for other cities and towns throughout the country. With the establishment of PMEX, Pakistani investors now have a regulated and transparent domestic platform to trade commodities and hedge their price risk. Commodities are fairly well established as an alternative asset class worldwide and we are seeing this in process underway in Pakistan said Mr Samir Ahmed Managing Director of the exchange. Eventually the benefits of a vibrant exchange will flow through all sectors of the economy including agriculture, industry, commerce and the financial sector, he added.