Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, suspended the agreement between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) under which the latter had been assigned to issue permits for hotels and buildings in Makkah to accommodate pilgrims. In his letter to Prince Sultan Bin Salman, SCT Secretary General, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal asked the Commission to issue temporary permits to house pilgrims in hotels and other buildings in Makkah for this year's Haj season. Prince Khaled also ordered the formation of a five–member committee comprising representatives from the Haj, Commerce and Industry ministries and Makkah's Chamber of Commerce and Industry to look into the issue. In his letter Prince Khaled suggested that permits for the newly completed buildings, whether flats or hotels, that meet the conditions set by Civil Defense should continue to be issued. The SCT will assume responsibility next year for issuing permits for buildings currently under construction and expected to be completed next year. Earlier, Adel Kaki, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had sent a letter to Prince Kahled outlining difficulties in the measures for the issuing of permits for buildings used to house pilgrims. – Okaz __
