MUSCAT, FEB 24
With Ramadhan round the corner, hypermarkets have begun to sell Ramadhan packs that contain essentials for a household to run to the month.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) and Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) have consented to the boxes for Ramadhan.
According to the CPA instructions, a typical Ramadhan box contains 5 kgs of long grain rice, 2 kg sugar, 400 gm of milk powder. Other items include 25 pieces of tomato paste each weighing 70 gm, 170 g of evaporated milk, cream 160 gm, frying oil of 1.5 litre, all-purpose flour weighing 2 kg, semolina 500 gm, chickpeas 500 gm, Arabic coffee 500 gm, harees 1 kg, Gazal gram flour 1 kg, masoor dal 1kg, khalas dates 1 kg, oats 500 gm, tamarind 300 gm, salt 1 kg, macaroni 400 gm, and 450 gm of vermicelli.
Priced at RO 9.900, these kits have become a must-have and have been steadily in demand since it was launched a week ago, according to the representatives of various retail outlets.
"We are seeing an increasing number of customers buying Ramadhan box which we launched last week after obtaining the necessary permissions. It is truly value for money as we have strictly followed the instructions of the CPA," Retnakaran, manager of Lulu Darsait branch said.
The CPA has a Price Monitoring System, a virtual consumer market that monitors the prices and consumer rights in place and prices of all essentials including fresh fruits and vegetables are constantly under scanner.
The price monitoring system also aims to serve the consumer with a free and fair market, to raise the level of awareness, and to create a virtual consumer market that matches his aspirations. This also reinforces the need for a price monitor, under the impression that creating a safe and balanced market through timely updated price lists is the needed to educate the consumers enabling control over the markets.
The Price Observatory is a consumer’s virtual window to a balanced and safe shopping world through a few clicks on the smartphone. It provides a consumer with a database and information on the prices of nearly 750,000 commodities in as many as 21 commercial centres in the Governorate of Muscat, followed by other governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, which the Authority has monitored and provided through the Observatory.
With this, a consumer can monitor and follow up on the movement of commodity prices before purchasing foodstuffs and luxuries that the consumer wishes to purchase. The Authority has monitored and provided through the observatory. The observatory will also facilitate the consumer by making the prices of the products available for the consumer and helping him compare them with the prices in the same center to be purchased from with the rest of the other centers. This will have a positive impact on the consumer and the competing merchant, offering promotional offers to the consumer, enabling permanent institutional control of goods and their prices, and ensuring that the markets are free from any excesses or price hikes.
The CPA official further said that efforts are on to ensure a smooth flow of foods, predominantly fruits and vegetables well before the beginning of Ramadhan.
"We make sure that the essential commodities are available before, during, and post Ramadhan besides ensuring that the suppliers comply with laws and legislations related to consumer protection, before the beginning of the holy month," he added.
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