Nadia Al-Fawwaz Saudi Gazette ABHA — Asir Municipality closed down over 20 shops on Sunday in several downtown districts of Abha. Municipality inspectors implemented the closures during their daily field tours. Ali Saeed Al-Haj, who is in charge of the inspectors, said restaurants and shops were among the businesses closed down. Several workers were not holding health certificates nor were they adhering to the correct dress code, said Al-Haj. Other violations included not complying with the requirements for hygiene and working with open wounds on their hands, materials not being stored or handled properly and food being prepared in utensils unfit for cooking. Ibrahim Al-Falgi, director general of supervision and licenses, said these inspection tours would continue daily and will be intensified in the coming days due to the summer season. He added that the municipality is studying the possibility of developing downtown Abha in cooperation with several related authorities. Al-Falgi said the restaurants that were closed down used rusty utensils for cooking and their licenses had expired. The food was also prepared in unhygienic ramshackle houses. He called on the public to call 940 to report regarding erring shops, cafeterias and restaurants.
