Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi decided Monday to suspend the decree of tax hike one day after its announcement, but ordinary people are still worried about a potential price increase.

President Morsi approved Sunday to raise taxes over dozens of commodities and services, including alcohol, cigarettes, soda, electricity, communication services, tourism services, shop license and car license.

The measure is part of Egyptian government's commitment to the reform program agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund to get a loan of 4.8 billion U.S. dollars.

However, early Monday morning, Morsi decided to freeze the decree until the cabinet holds a social dialogue over the issue.

"Morsi decided to suspend the decision because he knew citizens can't afford such a price increase currently," said a statement posted on the president's Facebook page.

Although the decree has been suspended, many people are worried that there may be price hike eventually.

"One of the most important reasons to last year's unrest is bad living condition, as many workers were laid off from their work," Othman Mohamed, a 54-year-old taxi driver, told Xinhua.

Salama Mohamed, 45, owner of a supermarket in Cairo's Dar al- Salam suburb, resented the decree. "I believe the prices of 50 commodities will increase soon, and I'm very worried about my customers, most of whom are from the middle class. I will stock up for another month's supplies before the increase," he said.

Sayed Nassar, a 47-year-old owner of a real estate company, believed the increasing of prices will affect the whole society. For example, "the taxes will increase on rebar and construction licenses, which will result in the increase of apartment prices."

Prime Minister Hesham Qandil said Tuesday in a press conference that the price rise will not touch other basic commodities, such as rice, flour, sugar, vegetables, fruits and oil.

Saad Salah, owner of a big supermarket in Cairo's Helwan district, said, "Electricity prices will increase, which will lead some shop owners to increase the prices of their products to compensate for the extra money they pay."

Samia Haneya, mother of four children, expressed her fears about the future, saying that when one commodity's price increases, other commodities' prices will increase consequently. "Our salaries are still very low and we can't afford any price increase, " she said.

Egypt's opposition, headed by National Salvation Front, staged Tuesday demonstrations dubbed "No for price rises, no for referendum," referring to the constitution referendum slated for Dec. 15.

According to Ehab al-Desouky, an expert in Economic Research Center of Sadat Academy, the decision of raising prices, even if it does not concern basic commodities, was issued at a very wrong time amid all the tension. Endi

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