DOHA: Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani yesterday issued a decision, imposing a price cap on 400 food and non-food items ahead of Ramadan.
The price control will be in force from 24 of the Hijri month of Shaaban corresponding to June 11 until the end of Ramadan, which falls mid-July.
The annual Ramadan price freeze, which has entered its fifth year, aims to “ease the burden of extra costs on consumers”, the Qatar News Agency reported, quoting the Minister.
A similar number of items were included in the price control last year.
A full list of the commodities is expected to be issued shortly.
Items will include flour, sugar, rice, macaroni, harees, oil and milk, among others.
Prices of some essential commodities are expected to fall with the ministry’s decision.
“We are expecting a full list of items next week,” an official of a leading hypermarket told this daily last evening.
The Minister has urged the public to keep a vigil on shops and report any violations of the law.
He said the ministry will intensify efforts to monitor prices and ensure sufficient availability of food items in the market.
This apparently is a warning to shops against violating the ministry’s decision or the list or trying to bypass it by not releasing enough stocks of the commodities to avoid possible losses.
He said the ministry will take measures to protect the rights of consumers, combat commercial fraud and prevent monopolistic practices. At the same, the ministry is keen to promote competition in the market, he added.
The Peninsula
