ŞINYAR BAYÎZ

Sulaymaniyah - The prices of foodstuffs and other products have been increasing since the beginning of Ramadan. As the Eid al-Fitr public holiday approaches, the prices of foods and products are on the rise. The citizens of Sulaymaniyah complain about the price hikes.

They control the prices

Special Trade Control Manager Soran Xefur told us their commission members controlled the prices in markets before Ramadan. “Before Ramadan, our commission visited the markets and shops. We did this to find out if prices increase during Ramadan. If we find out the shopkeepers increase the prices during the month of Ramadan, we will close their shops.  However, if they bought products such as flour and oil very expensive, we cannot do anything. If the prices of the products are the same in every shop, we cannot do anything. We will continue to control the markets in order to prevent price hikes before the Eid al-Fitr public holiday.”

“They turn Ramadan into an opportunity

Although the administration of the trade control center denies the price hikes, the citizens are dissatisfied with the prices. Roza Abdullah, a citizen of Sulaymaniyah, told us that the shopkeepers turn Ramadan into an opportunity to increase prices. “The month of Ramadan is the month of solidarity. But prices have been increasing instead of falling,” she said.

No control mechanism

Hetwa Mehemed talked about the price hikes and said, “Food prices are very high everywhere because there is no control mechanism. Everyone has set a price as they want. If there was a control mechanism, the prices would not increase.”

“Citizens are in a difficult situation”

Stating that the citizens are in a difficult situation due to the recent price hikes, Gelawêj Hemesalih said, “The prices increase every day. The citizens face poverty and many other crises because they don’t receive their salaries.”

Niyan Fayiq thinks the increase in the exchange rate affects the prices. “The prices always go up, not down.  Although the quality of the products is the same, the prices are different. The authorities should control the prices,” she said.