Nayrouz News Agency : With the holy month of Ramadan commencing on Friday, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz on Thursday checked on the availability of basic commodities and foodstuffs in the local market.

During a videoconference with Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri and Director General of  the Civil Service Consumer Corporation Salman Qudah, Razzaz praised the efforts of private trade and industrial sectors and the civil and military consumer corporations for providing  sufficient stock of commodities and basic foodstuff at appropriate prices, especially with the coinciding of the coronavirus crisis and the advent of Ramadan.

The private-public sector partnership has contributed to achieving the strategic aim of providing the citizens with their needs, the prime minister said, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Highlighting the importance of adhering to health and safety standards and increasing oversight during this stage, which demands awareness and commitment to the highest health and safety requirements, Razzaz directed the concerned authorities to take "the strictest measures” against any violations.

The consumer corporations are "an important factor” in controlling market prices and ensuring stability, he said, highlighting the Royal directives to follow up on citizen health and ensure basic food availability.

Hammouri, for his part, affirmed that food commodities are available within safe limits, noting that prices at the consumer corporations and private-sector markets are "within the normal range”.

Qudah affirmed that, in preparation for  the fasting month amid the coronavirus crisis,  the Civil Service Consumer Corporation has tripled or quadrupled its standard strategic stock of all foodstuffs, and created five sub-warehouses in Irbid, Mafraq, Balqa, Karak and Maan, in case any lockdown should occur.