KRG monitors markets during Ramadan

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Trade and Industry Kamal Muslim, along with a special committee from the Ministry, visited the markets of Erbil on the first day of Ramadan to monitor prices and quality, according to a statement from the KRG Department of Media and Information.

This visit is intended to increase surveillance during Ramadan to prevent vendors from exploiting the high demand by selling substandard items.

"The purpose of our visit to the market is to gain an understanding of the problems facing the market this month," the minister said.

"There is surveillance even in the afternoon. What we noticed is that only domestic meat prices have increased slightly. We are trying to solve this problem with other institutions," he added.

In the month of Ramadan, the monitoring committees of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the joint committees of the governors of the cities and districts have intensified their efforts to monitor the market prices of goods.

The Iraqi Sunni Endowment Diwan, tasked with managing the affairs of the Sunni sect in the country, also announced Monday as the first day of Ramadan. The Shiite endowment has not yet issued a statement about the beginning of the religious holiday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have similarly announced Monday as the beginning of the fasting month.

Lasting either 29 or 30 days, Muslims during the month will abstain from all kinds of drinking and eating from dawn to dusk.

Fasting is one of the main pillars of Islamic belief and is an obligation for all able-bodied believers.

Eid Al Fitr, a religious feast celebrated at the end of Ramadan, will fall on April 11 or 12. The sighting committee will determine the exact date towards the end of the month.