Brunei kick-starts month-long fasting of Ramadhan amid food price control efforts

People shop at a local market during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei. - Xinhua

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 24 (Xinhua): Muslims in Brunei observed the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday.

The daily period of fasting starts at the breaking of dawn and ends at the setting of the sun.

Working hours at government ministries and departments throughout the month of Ramadan are shortened here from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., except on Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

To help residents cover their daily expenses, maximum seasonal price setting on selected food items, especially high-demand food, throughout the month of Ramadan, are implemented by the government.

Covering 99 products of various brands, the initiative is an additional price control effort for basic foods currently implemented on cooking oil, infant formula milk, powder, rice and sugar. - Xinhua