In an official dispatch issued on August 3, the Government leader asked these agencies and businesses to take measures to boost production, practice thrift, ensure supply and demand of essential commodities and be well prepared to cope with the upcoming floods and storms.

The Ministry of Finance will establish a market stabilisation fund by mobilising idle capital from localities. It will coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to enhance market inspections, tighten price control and deal with any violations of the market laws.

“The Ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Health have to send out inspection teams to the market to check on the prices of commodities and services,” said the Prime Minister.

He asked for unchanged prices of some essential commodities such as electricity, coal, safe water and bus services until the end of the year.

He also urged State-run economic groups and corporations to reduce production costs and accept lower profits in an effort to keep inflation in check.