RIYADH: Authorities have seized more than 182,000 expired and counterfeit food and consumer goods from Makkah, Madinah, Muzdalifah, Mina and Arafat during the Haj season.
An official from the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI) said that the seized goods were not in conformity to the standard specifications.
The ministry launched an inspection campaign before the Haj season to ensure adequate availability of quality consumer goods for pilgrims.
The official said raids were conducted at the holy sites, where the shops and outlets were mostly frequented by pilgrims. The plan also included intensive inspection of jewelry and precious metals shops, gas stations and auto workshops. The ministry’s plan also covered mobile shops, commercial refrigerators and food trucks.
Within the sacred areas, the inspection teams destroyed more than 5,000 consumer goods that included expired pastries.
During the inspection tours, a total of 4,609 commercial fraud violation were registered for perfumes, around 1,000 commercial fraud cases for consumer goods such as shoes and spectacles of famous brands and around 60,000 consumer goods, including expired food items.
The official said the seized items and the shop owners have been booked for violating the anti-fraud regulations.
The ministry has urged consumers to register complaints or inquiries by dialling the toll free number, 1900, or through the smartphone application “Commercial Report.”
182,000 products seized during pilgrimage
182,000 products seized during pilgrimage
Saudi foreign minister praises China’s support for Gaza ceasefire efforts
- Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave
BEIJING: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday praised China’s support for efforts to end the war on Gaza and push for the two-state solution.
In his address at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave.
He called for deeper cooperation to establish a reliable and irreversible path to the two-state solution, noting that constant dialogue is crucial for achieving regional peace.
He rejected foreign interference in the Middle East and called for efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
China hosted a summit on Thursday focusing on the Israel-Hamas war in which Chinese President Xi Jinping promised more humanitarian aid in Gaza and called for an international peace conference.
The summit, attended by heads of state from Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Tunisia among others, was set to address China’s expanding trade ties and security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war.
KSrelief extends training, water, health projects in Yemen
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief is extending its training, food and health projects for vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In Taiz and the Hadramout governorate, the agency launched a life-skills program for orphans and women, which including sewing, managing businesses, and maintaining mobile phones.
In Aden, KSrelief concluded a training program on community cohesion in cooperation with the UN Development Programme, covering peace committees, conflict resolution and mediation.
In addition, the aid agency distributed 634 food parcels to 4,438 individuals in Aden.
In Hodeidah, 2,600 personal hygiene bags were delivered to displaced people in the Al-Jisha and Bani Jaber camps.
KSrelief also signed a deal with a civil society organization in Taiz to dig a well in the area that would benefit 3,150 individuals.
In Socotra governorate, KSrelief signed a pact with a civil society organization to construct a tank that would supply clean water to villages.
Saudi Railways announces increased seating capacity of Haramain High-Speed Train for Hajj season
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia Railways on Wednesday announced the readiness of the Haramain High-Speed Railway to receive pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season and said it has increased the number of available seats by about 100,000.
SAR revealed its operational plan for the season at its five stations linking Makkah to Madinah, bringing the total number of seats to 1.6 million, up from more than a 1.3 million seating capacity last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The 453-kilometer railway passes through the main Jeddah station in the Sulaymaniyah district, King Abdulaziz Airport station in Jeddah, and King Abdullah Economic City.
“This expansion also considers the addition of more than 430 new trips to last year’s trips, raising the number of trips scheduled in the operational plan for this year to more than 3,800” from May 9 to June 25, while the numbers of trips on peak days will be 126, SPA said.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway train ranks among the 10 fastest electric trains globally. It reaches 300 km per hour, and operates a fleet of 35 trains, with a capacity of 417 seats per train. It functions based on an environment-friendly system and zero carbon emissions, and plays an important role in preserving roads’ infrastructure by reducing road traffic.
Islamic Ministry unites volunteers to serve pilgrims
- The initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote a culture of volunteering within communities
MAKKAH: Almost 5,000 people are set to volunteer for programs launched by the Makkah arm of the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The branch has launched 247 opportunities via its volunteering platform to coincide with the start of the Hajj season. These include distributing more than 235,000 water bottles at 3,850 mosques, providing umbrellas to pilgrims for protection against the sun, distributing booklets and providing meals.
The initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote a culture of volunteering within communities.
Earlier, the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque launched its operational plan for Hajj, promoting voluntary and humanitarian work.
It recognizes the Two Holy Mosques as attractive environments for such efforts, based on religious and Saudi values that highlight the importance of generosity and hospitality.
Al-Jubeir meets US, Costa Rica officials in Riyadh
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and climate envoy Adel Al-Jubeir met Robert Karem, national security adviser to US Senator Mitch McConnell, on Wednesday in Riyadh.
In a separate meeting, Al-Jubeir met Costa Rica’s non-resident ambassador to the Kingdom, Francisco Chacon Hernandez.
The talks in both meetings centered on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
