Tight measures to quash potential price hikes

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is taking necessary measures to combat potential attempts to raise prices, a senior ministry official said on Saturday.

Inspectors from the ministry are monitoring the markets to spot any unjustified price hikes, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for Control and Consumers' Protection Abdullah Al-Enezi said in a statement.

No price tampering will be tolerated and violators will be prosecuted, Al-Enezi said, assuring people that their needs are available, urging them to file complaints through the 24-hour 135 hotline.

Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh earlier reassured citizens about the country's strategic food stocks, saying they hit an all-time high level.

"Kuwait's strategic food reserves have hit their highest ever-recorded level," the minister added, noting that he had instructed his ministry's control agency to step up inspection measures in order to curb a possible staple price rise at the local market amid the current regional circumstances.