Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki said providing high quality and healthy food and commodities for citizens at all times, not only during Ramadan, is a top government priority.

The prime minister gave his remarks as he chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to check on steps taken by government bodies and the private sector to ensure the availability of all food items during the holy month of Ramadan at high quality and affordable prices.

He stressed the need to maintain prices at reasonable levels, hailing as “important tools” the role of Military and Civil service Consumer Corporations in controlling prices.

In the meeting, Al-Mulki said he was confident that there will be no surprises in prices this year.

Earlier, the cabinet decided to freeze prices at both corporations in 2017.

The premier called on the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to declare prices to enable citizens to choose what suits them.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yaroub Qudah briefed the meeting on the ministry’s plan and preparations for the holy month of Ramadan.

He noted that the ministry is monitoring the prices of 57 food items to determine changes that affect them. These items include cereals, legumes, vegetables, red meat, poultry and some processed materials, the minister added.

46 commodities or 81 percent have seen their prices go down, while 4 commodities’ prices or 7 percent have stabilized, as 7 goods, which account for 12 percent of the total of these commodities have picked up, Qudah said.

He stressed that the ministry was keen to provide sufficient strategic stocks to cover the needs of the Kingdom of subsidized goods and food commodities.

Representatives of industrial, trade and food sectors, who attended the meeting, spoke about their institutions’ plans and perpetrations for the month of fasting, highlighting the availability of sufficient staples in the market to meet the needs of consumers.

They assured that the prices of these materials will not be affected by any rise.

Source: Fana News