ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA) has urged the government to save the construction industry by controlling the ever-increasing prices of cement and steel.

This call was made by the APCA secretary, Yunus Khan, at a press conference here on Friday. Provincial office-bearers of the Association also accompanied him.

Mr Khan suggested to the government to permit the contractors to import these two items duty-free, as it would help decrease the prices of the two products in the local market.

If the prices of cement and steel, the two most important items used in the construction industry, continued to increase, it would be difficult for the contractors to continue mega projects in next three to four months, he added.

At present, he said, around 18 mega hydel projects including M-1 (Motorway) are in progress, hence need for continuous supply of the construction material. He said steel was selling at Rs32,000 per ton, which was available at Rs19,000 per ton in the recent past. He said this increase of Rs13,000 per ton was a serious blow to the industry and the government was yet to take notice of it.