JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers has taken a series of measures to contain the spiraling prices in the local market. The measures include intensifying the mechanism for monitoring prices of goods and services, preventing attempts to hoard goods and monopolize markets and goods to make exorbitant price hike, and making available a congenial environment for healthy competition. Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, chaired the Cabinet session here Monday night. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said the Cabinet discussed the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Supreme Economic Council with regard to the phenomenon of rising prices of goods and services in the local market even after State support and and subsidies. The Cabinet issued a number of directives to contain price rise. Dr. Khoja said the Council directed strengthening the efforts of government agencies in the field of control and supervision of prices of goods and services, as well as to prevent any exorbitant prices leading to higher profit margins for traders and producers. The Council also issued directives to prevent any moves to monopolize market of goods and services, as well as to review the rules and regulations that govern prices of goods and services and the factors affecting them. The Cabinet also decided to provide a comprehensive database about prices of goods and services in the Kingdom and neighboring countries, and continuously monitor any changes taking place in the price structure. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet commended the sublime message contained in the address of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman to the Muslim Ummah on the eve of Ramadan. The Council stressed that their address affirmed that Islam is a religion of love, forgiveness, and tolerance, and that Islam's message is for building peace and dialogue, and that it rejects division. The Cabinet also reiterated that the highlight of their message clarified that the Kingdom will not allow anyone to misuse the tenets of Islam. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet thanked King Abdullah for his utmost care and attention for the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques as well as for serving the pilgrims and visitors. The Cabinet commended the King's order to open the ground floor, the first floor, the first mezzanine section of the expanded building of the Grand Mosque. On the Syrian situation, the Cabinet urged the international community to put an end to all kinds of genocide and starvation faced by the Syrian people and stressed the need for exerting efforts to get access to relief supplies and medicines for the war-torn country. The Cabinet noted that the Syrian people are facing the worst forms of human rights violations and genocide. The Council also stressed the importance of exerting concerted efforts by the international humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, where they face extremely harsh treatment. The Kingdom sought their intervention to support the Palestinian people and end the injustice they have been suffering. The Cabinet appreciated the International Monetary Fund's report that confirmed Saudi Arabia as one of the best performing G20 economies in recent years and its vital role in supporting the global economy through contributing to the stabilizing of the global oil market.
