AMMAN/IRBID (Petra) - Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on Wednesday said the government has opened new markets for livestock imports to prevent hikes in meat prices during the holy month of Ramadan.

During a field visit to the Greater Amman Municipality’s slaughterhouse yesterday, the premier said the government has also lowered customs duties on imported livestock in a bid to ensure availability of red meat in the local market at affordable prices during the fasting month.

He added that these measures are designed not only to stabilise prices of imported white and red meat, but to reduce them, noting that if prices do not go down, the government will rescind these measures.

In response to traders' demand to open new markets, Bakhit said the government issued permits to traders to import red meat from 20 countries.

Also yesterday, the prime minister visited the Civil Consumer Service Corporation (CSCC) branch in Irbid Governorate, where he checked on the availability of basic food items.

During the visit, the premier said there are 68 CSCC branches all over the country that sell basic commodities at affordable prices.

Bakhit also pointed out that there are huge stocks of basic food items on the local market that can cover the country's needs for six months, and called on citizens to rationalise their purchases and buy only what they need because otherwise demand will rise and so will prices.

The premier noted that the government will intensify inspections of markets during Ramadan to curb any manipulations in prices of basic food items during the holy month.

Bakhit also checked on a tile factory built under a Royal initiative in Irbid’s Westeyeh District, and checked on the quality of medical services offered to citizens at the Qmim Health Centre.