Market monitoring in Mecca before Ramadan: 17 violations detected and prices controlled
Government agencies in Mecca have intensified their oversight efforts to ensure markets are ready for the Ramadan season. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Mecca region conducted a series of joint inspection tours in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. These intensive campaigns targeted public markets as part of early preparations for the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH.
Government integration to regulate markets
These field operations embody the integration of various government sectors to ensure a regulated and fair business environment. While the Ministry of Environment is responsible for ensuring the safety and availability of agricultural and animal products, the Ministry of Commerce works to combat commercial fraud and monitor prices, and the Ministry of Human Resources ensures that establishments comply with labor and localization regulations. This tripartite coordination aims to tighten control over central markets, which experience high demand during religious seasons, to guarantee that safe goods reach consumers at fair prices.
Monitoring violations and immediate response
The thorough inspection tours resulted in the detection of 17 various violations across several establishments. Field teams addressed these violations immediately in accordance with established regulations and procedures. The violations ranged from price gouging to organizational issues, and the offending establishments were required to rectify their situations immediately. These decisive measures serve as a clear message to all merchants regarding the necessity of adhering to regulations, particularly with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan, during which demand for food and other essential goods increases.
Strategic importance of Makkah markets
These campaigns are of exceptional importance in Mecca, given its religious significance and the influx of millions of pilgrims and visitors during the holy month of Ramadan. This increases the responsibility of regulatory bodies to ensure food security and ample supply. Through these proactive measures, the Ministry aims to prevent any monopolistic practices or unjustified price hikes that might exploit the anticipated surge in demand, thus contributing to enhancing the quality of life and comfort of residents and visitors.
Continued field monitoring
For his part, the Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in the Makkah region, Engineer Waleed bin Ibrahim Al-Daghis, affirmed that these inspections are not temporary but rather part of an ongoing action plan aimed at strengthening proactive monitoring before the peak season. Al-Daghis indicated that the field teams will continue their work to ensure a safe and stable shopping environment that meets everyone's expectations, emphasizing that the Ministry will not hesitate to apply the prescribed penalties against violators to guarantee the protection of consumer rights.
