Besides their main role of guiding lost pilgrims, Saudi Boy Scouts have conducted inspection tours of shops in the holy sites. Waleed Abu-Bakr, head of the Saudi Scout Society camp in Mina, said about 25 Boy Scouts have been tasked with monitoring the prices in many fast food outlets and other shops selling foodstuffs. These shops are found in abundance across the valley. Abu-Bakr said that the campaign is also targeting shops to check the expiry dates on packed food items. “We are doing all this with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce which has provided us with the updated prices for the Haj season,” Abu-Bakr said. Rabi Al-Zahrani, the head of the 25-member team, said his group is being assisted by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Makkah Municipality. “We are checking any attempt to raise the prices of foodstuffs and other essentials. We are also searching for unhealthy food,” Al-Zahrani said. He added that once the team finds any shop not complying with the set regulations, it seizes the objectionable items and imposes a fine on the owner of the shop.
