RIYADH — Teams from the Saudi ministry of commerce carried out over 61,000 inspection tours since May 24 (Shawwal 1) ensuring prices are under control and the consumers are not being overcharged. The teams issued instant fines on 7,081 individuals and establishments for various violations. The inspection tours involved hypermarkets, food supplies, wholesale and retail markets, shops for luxury items, outlets for devices and medical supplies, pharmacies, steel, cement and building material stores, gas stations, and car agencies. The teams ensured that all wholesale and retail trade stores were adhering to the approved preventive protocols to check the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The inspection teams monitored prices of goods through electronic price monitoring system and compared them with neighboring countries. Makkah topped the list of regions in the number of inspection tours by 9,649, followed by Riyadh 9,537, the Eastern Province 8,795, Al-Qassim 8,704, Madinah 4,708, Najran 4,250, Hail 4,000, Al-Jouf 2,686, Jazan 2,476, Asir 1,989, the Northern Borders 1,671, Tabuk 1,591, and Al-Baha 1,192 tours. Makkah region with 1,796 cases topped the areas where fines were issued asgainst violators. It was followed by Riyadh with 1,222, the Eastern Province 972, Madinah 546, Jazan 512, Hail 453, Al-Qassim 418, Asir 347, Al-Baha 225, Al-Jouf 211, Tabuk 161, Najran 143, the Northern Borders 75. The ministry called on all consumers to file complaints 24/7 at the link: https://mci.gov.sa/C-app or the call center on the number 1900 or the official website of the ministry.
