BEIRUT - Figures released by the association of engineers of Beirut & Tripoli show that construction permits reached 2.16 million square meters in the first quarter of 2008, up 35% from 1.6 million square meters in the same period last year. Construction permits totaled 885,000 square meters in March 2008, up 44% year-on-year from 613,00 square meters in March 2007. In parallel, cement deliveries reached 863,837 tons in the first quarter of the year, an increase of 7.7% from 802,266 tons in the same period of 2007. Cement deliveries were driven by local demand in the construction sector and exports. Cement deliveries increased by 4.7% year-on-year to 351,856 tons in March 2008.