DOHA: Faced with complaints from citizens about high prices of vegetables at Al Mazrouh yard and the newly opened Al Khor-Dakhira yard, the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce is planning to monitor the markets.
Several citizens who called up a popular programme on Qatar Radio — Watanee Al Habeeb Sabah Al Khair (Good Morning Qatar) — yesterday said prices of several items in the new markets were higher compared to those at the central market in Doha.
The two markets were opened by the Ministry of Environment to give an opportunity to Qatari farmers to sell their products directly to customers without intervention of middlemen.
Responding to citizens’ complaints at the programme, CPD Director Sheikh Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said the department will look into the issue.
He, however, added that the department can take action only if the prices are found higher than those fixed by the daily price list issued by the CPD.
“Our department issues daily price list for fruits and vegetables fixing the maximum price for each item.
“Traders are required to abide by this ceiling but can reduce the prices from the maximum limit to attract customers.
“Maybe, some traders in the city are doing this and this may have led to such complaints,” said Al Thani.
He said the department has been conducting routine inspections at the new markets and will also investigate complaints about price hike.
“We need to conduct a detailed study in this regard, then only we will be able to regulate the prices properly,” said Al Thani, in his intervention at the discussions on the radio.
Citizens, however, have lamented that prices at the new markets were supposed to be lower than those at the central market.
A caller who introduced himself as Abu Nasir said, “I have compared the prices. A box of tomato at Mazrouh yard cost QR15 while the same is sold at the central market at QR8.
“A box of cucumber cost QR22 compared to QR15 at the central market. The prices are supposed to be lower because they (traders at Mazrouh) are not paying rents.”
He felt that prices in all markets should be fixed and unified by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
A woman, Umm Hassan, had similar opinion about Al Khor-Dakhira yard in Al Khor.
“I took my mother to Al Khor yard and she noticed differences in prices.
“For example, a box of lettuce cost QR10 at the central market while the same cost QR15 at Al Khor yard,” she said.
The Peninsula
