SWABI, March 18: Cement prices in Swabi have soared by 16.66 per cent during the last one week creating difficulties for the people, a Dawn survey showed.

In the last five months prices remained unchanged and in some cases came down from Rs 245 to Rs 180 per bag. By low prices people felt relief and they undertook construction work at higher pace.

In the last one week an abrupt rise has occurred and on Tuesday a bag of Charat cement was available in the market at Rs 210 while the Askari cement was being sold at Rs 200.

The dealers said no one can guarantee stability in the prices but they claimed that more would occur.

There are complaints that most of the dealers had not resumed supply to the contractors as they were expecting more increase.