Prime Minister Chairs Meeting to Enhance Market Oversight and Consumer Protection

SadaNews: On Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa chaired a meeting in his office in Ramallah to discuss ways to enhance government oversight on markets, control the prices of goods and services, and develop mechanisms for consumer protection, ensuring the integration of efforts among various regulatory bodies.

The Prime Minister emphasized that strengthening the resilience of citizens and meeting their needs amid the difficult circumstances facing the country is a top priority, stressing the necessity of doubling efforts to prevent exploitation and regulate markets, especially under exceptional conditions.

Mustafa appreciated the role of the private sector, praising the initiatives and efforts carried out in coordination with the government, which contributed to supporting citizens' resilience and overcoming the current phase.

Participants in the meeting reviewed the efforts made to protect citizens and their rights, highlighting the importance of maintaining the stability of essential goods' prices despite rising fuel costs, continuing oversight on the safety of food and medicine, and monitoring drug prices, along with intensifying supervision of food and consumer products to ensure compliance with specifications.

The meeting also addressed enhancing oversight on the fuel sector, combating smuggling and manipulation, as well as tackling tax and customs evasion and electronic fraud, and protecting public funds by reducing violations against water and electricity lines.

The meeting reaffirmed the necessity of ensuring the maintenance of a strategic stock that includes 16 essential commodities, with continued coordination with traders and unions to prevent price hikes and preparing to confront challenges in the coming months.

Attendees stressed the importance of intensifying monitoring rounds and ensuring the availability of emergency reserves of fuel for vital and productive sectors, in addition to activating complaint channels and enhancing communication with citizens to report violations.