Angry citizens on Wednesday attacked cement trucks in Taif and took away bags of cement without paying. They also attacked a representative from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The event has put pressure on concerned authorities to find an urgent solution to the cement shortage crisis enveloping most parts of the Kingdom. Fahd Al-Jalajil, Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said the ministry is in talks with the Ministry of Petroleum to meet the demand in Makkah region from Saturday. Three cement companies will be required to reduce their prices and meet public demand, Al-Jalajil added. “Coordination between both ministries has helped in achieving the sought-after goal. Factories have started selling cement at lower prices to dealers. This will help in meeting the demand at reasonable prices,” he said. Al-Jalajil also said that a committee from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be in charge of providing sufficient cement trucks for the Makkah region. Selling cement in Taif needs to be organized, he said adding that security men should be present to provide the needed protection just as is the case in other cities of the Kingdom. Cement prices have skyrocketed in the black market, where a bag of cement now costs SR30. __
