KATHMANDU, Jan 23: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament has ordered the government to immediately control the cement price hike. Following widespread criticism over the unnatural price increase, PAC took interest in the matter. In its meeting on Wednesday, the committee instructed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies to take action after conducting a detailed study.
The committee also urged the government to develop pricing techniques to regulate and regularly assess the pricing of goods and services. It directed the Ministry of Energy to provide information on load-shedding in the cement industry.
PAC directs govt to control price hike of cement
In the meeting, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, explained that unannounced load-shedding had caused production decline, which may have contributed to the price hike. He assured the committee that the ministry would work with cement producers and construction businesses to resolve the issue.
Rabi Singh, president of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, accused the state of complicity in the price increase and warned that if immediate action is not taken, prices will continue to rise.
