(MENAFN- The Peninsula) DOHA: A number of essential commodities such as rice, milk, sugar, chicken (fresh and frozen), flour and edible oil will become cheaper from today as the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has put a cap on the prices of over 400 food and non-food items, ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The revised prices will be in force until the end of the holy month. Last year, an equal number of items were included in the Ramadan price cap, which has now entered its sixth year.
This time the move has come as part of a special Ramadan initiative launched by the ministry under the theme #Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb, translated as “#the_least_we_can _do”.
A new price list issued by the ministry shows a significant drop in the prices of many essential items. For instance, two litres of Al Marai fresh milk is now available at QR10, 1.75 litres of Nada fresh milk at QR8.50, Nadec fresh milk (1.75 litres) at QR8.25, Nadec long life milk (four bottles of one litre each ) at QR13 and Al Safi fresh milk (2litres) at QR10. The prices, in general, have come down by QR1 to QR2 or more.
A 5 kg bag of Punjab Garden basmati rice is now sold at QR25.75, Sunwhite rice at QR33.75 and Cleopatra Egyptian rice at 27.75.
A 10 kg bag of Tilda Pure basmati rice is priced QR129, 20 kg of India Gate basmati rice CV, QR 247.75, 40kg of Khory Indian rice QR277, 40 kg of Mohammed basmati rice QR196 and 40 kg of Abukas No 1 rice, QR185.
Various brands of frozen and fresh chicken have also become cheaper. Sadia Frozen Chicken is priced QR12.50 (1,000gm), QR14 (1,100 gm) and QR15 (1200 gm). A crate of Qatar Eggs MED containing 30 pieces is now available at QR13.50.
Several popular brands of edible oil, sugar, pasta, olive oil, flour and several other most sought after items are also included in the prize freeze. Any shopping outlet that violates the new regulation will face stern action, the ministry warned yesterday.
The ministry has unveiled several community-oriented initiatives to mark Ramadan this year, including awareness forums and campaigns on trade in Islam and a programme on ‘Halal Livelihood’ on its YouTube channel.
The ministry will also launch Al Baraka corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme; the ‘Iktisadi’ bank card campaign and other campaigns to boost the productivity of bakeries and regulate the sale of gold and jewellery, said a statement yesterday.
The Peninsula