Qatar officials are to freeze the prices of at least 160 basic food and non-food items from July 25 as part of a campaign to protect shoppers during Ramadan.
The move, which will see prices fixed at marginally below the normal retail cost, is designed to stop retailers from hiking prices when demand for several food and non-food items rises substantially.
The price freeze during Ramadan will be effective from July 25 until the end of the fasting month, which is expected to begin on August 12 or 13, The Peninsula reported on Sunday.
Sheikh Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Business and Trade, said the number of food and non-food items included in the price freeze this year was being increased.
Food items such as wheat flour, rice, sugar, milk and milk products like butter as well as fruit juice are in high demand during the fasting month.
Traders used to hike their prices, prompting the consumer protection watchdog to act and impose a freeze on their prices during Ramadan.
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