The Pakistan Punjab Economic Forum (PEF) has appreciated the government decision to allow duty-free import of cement and termed it a big relief to the construction industry, which actually was suffering for the last many days. In a statement issued on Saturday, the President Punjab Economic Forum Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice Presidents Mehboob Nasir Chaudhry, Jalil Ahmad Malik and Mian Mohammad Hanif said that the decision would not only bring the fast increasing prices to reasonable level but would also help speedy execution of ongoing projects all over the country.  
 
The PEF office-bearers said that due to sharp increase in the prices of the commodity, not only the construction sector was suffering but the allied industry was also in bad shape. They said that the government decision is well in time and help save the industry.  They also appreciated the ECC decision to bring the commodity into Price Control Act and withdrawal of duty drawback facility to discourage its export to Afghanistan. The said that after inclusion of cement in the Price Control Act the Monopoly Control Authority (MCA) would be able to take action against them for increasing the prices.