Ministry of Commerce and Industry officials and anti-fraud inspectors cannot take vacations during Ramadan, the organization said in a memo to all its branches. The ministry, which is suffering from a shortage of inspectors, intends to tighten control on the market during Ramadan, when there is a tremendous increase in demand for consumer and essential commodities and in some cases, improper price increases. The memo urged all field inspectors to monitor prices in all markets and deal seriously with reports from consumers, which they may receive through a toll-free telephone number. The ministry's anti-fraud law stipulates that anyone who is found tampering with prices will be sentenced to two years in prison or fined SR500,000.
