With government schools reopening next month, the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) has allayed fears of price rise and assured adequate stock supplies like bags, shoes, stationery, sportswear, accessories. The chairman of CPA said the prices of student essentials are well under control and any unjustifiable price rise of any product will not be tolerated
“Prices in the Sultanate of Oman are under control and we are constantly monitoring the market,” said Sulayem bin Salim al Hakmani, CPA Chairman.
He further added that the CPA inspectors are visiting the retail outlets to keep a tab on the prices of various essentials including ‘back to school’ merchandise on a regular basis and any discrepancy is highlighted.
There have been news that prices of some of the products required for children for schools have been shot up in view of the sudden unprecedented demand after two years of online classes.
“We always make sure that prices of products, be it essentials or back to school products, are kept under control and no unreasonable rate hike of any of our products at any of our branch,” said KA Shabeer, General Manager, Lulu Oman.
However, some wholesale dealers confirmed that there have been some scarcity or insufficient supply of some of the products which resulted in a price rise.
“We faced lower supply of some products from China and Taiwan against the demand as schools are about to open hence, there was a slight hike in their prices,” Abdul Kareem, a wholesale dealer in Muttrah told the Observer.
“But now that the supply is stable and demand saturated, prices are more or less the same and no undue price hike was experienced in the market,” said Kareem.
Social media was abuzz with the messages that the high prices of stationery and school supplies should be controlled and demanded that the Consumer Protection Authority needed to intervene.
“There’s no situation like that and we are fully convinced of the prices we sampled in many governorates. If the need be, we will intervene and take action against the offenders,” said Al Hakmani.
Al Hakmani urged on consumers to communicate with the Consumer Protection Authority if they find price variation in student supplies or other other goods, stressing that the authority is ready to deal with complaints and suggestions.
In an interview to ONA, said the authority is currently undertaking several initiatives aimed at raising consumer awareness in various fields, and is in the process of launching a vehicle recall campaign to maintain the safety of consumers and provide them with the necessary protection.
Al Hakmani said that the authority is in full coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and the General Administration of Customs of the Royal Oman Police to combat commercial fraud to ensure markets are free of fraudulent goods.
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