They said that MCA had issued show-cause notices, under section 11 of Monopoly Control Ordinance, to 18 cement companies against forming a cartel to increase cement prices, which was injurious to the interest of the consumers Besides, these undertakings had not passed on the benefit of Rs 12 per bag to the consumer which the government had given them by reducing central excise duty, they added.
Sources said that after detailed hearing of the show-cause notices replies, the MCA directed the cement factories to restore status quo ante and reduce cement prices as under:
1) Attock Cement Pakistan Rs 12 per bag;
(2) Askari cement Rs 51 per bag;
(3) Bestway Cement Rs 36 per bag,
(4) Cherat Cement Rs 47,
(5) Dandot Cement Rs 55 per bag,
(6) Dadabhoy Cement Industries Limited Rs 47 per bag,
(7) D G Khan Cement Company Limited Rs 60 per bag,
(8) Fecto Cement Limited Rs 38 per bag,
(9) Fauji Cement Company Limited Rs 37 per bag,
(10) Gharibwal Cement Limited Rs 40 per bag,
(11) Kohat Cement Limited Rs 40 per bag,
(12) Lucky Cement Limited Rs 52 per bag,
(13) Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited Rs 56 per bag,
(14) Askari Cement (Nizampur) Limited Rs 51 per bag,
(15) Pioneer Cement Limited Rs 39 per bag,
(16) Pakland Cement Limited Rs 50 per bag,
(17) Zeal Pak Cement Factory Limited Rs 49 per bag.