KUWAIT CITY, May 15: The Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Al-Haroun disclosed an estimated 1.5 million Kuwaitis and domestic workers benefit from ration cards, reports Al-Rai daily. Al-Haroun stressed the ministry has prepared response to the National Assembly concerning the hike in prices of certain commodities and construction materials. He said the ministry based its response on the juxtaposition among the prices of commodities and construction materials at the local markets, compared to the international markets and neighboring countries.

He explained the government is only concerned with citizens who benefit from facilities of the Credit and Savings Bank in construction materials, and added that the banks supplied those materials for the construction of 400 square meters lands at subsidized prices.  He stressed the response links the prices of some items and the international circumstances affecting countries such as Kuwait, and continued that such countries depend on the importation of basic foodstuffs and construction materials, which have close link to international oil prices and cost of transportation.