MUSCAT : Ahead of Ramadan, the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) Chairman Sulayem bin Ali Al Hikmani visited a number of commercial centres and shops in Muscat to ensure the availability of good and monitor prices.

“The Chairman of Consumer Protection Authority undertook an inspection of a number of centres and shops in Muscat this morning to find out the availability of goods and prices and to ensure their stability and the suppliers ’commitment to the laws and decisions issued by the authority before the start of Ramadan as well as the application of value-added tax. He also inaugurated the Ramadan basket initiative, which the authority used to implement annually in cooperation with some centres and shops in the various governorates of the Sultanate.”

The CPA chief warned retailers against hiking the prices. “We have a complete database of the prices of goods available in the market and we are closely monitoring the prices especially those that are not taxed. Any violation recorded will be dealt with according to the applicable legal procedures,” Al Hikmani added.