MAKKAH — The municipality has closed down 25 permanent restaurants and temporary kiosks due to several health violations pertaining to the food, workers and hygiene of location. Makkah Municipality manager Khalid Basfar said restaurants and kiosks change their menus and working hours to accommodate to the season and month of Ramadan. “The municipality runs inspection campaigns to ensure that all restaurants and kiosks follow health and safety regulations during the holy month. These health regulations do not only concern the food being sold but also the workers and the hygiene of the place,” said Basfar. Makkah Municipality manager Mohammad Hazazzi said street sellers and kiosks need to have the municipality's license to sell before operating. “Not having a license is a violation of the regulation and the person committing the violation is subjected to penalties. The municipality granted license to 22 street sellers and kiosks in Al-Maabid Area during the month of Ramadan,” said Hazazzi. He added the municipality banned selling goods at 80 locations in Al-Maabid area because they would cause obstruction to the pedestrians. “We also gave license to 65 street sellers and kiosks to sell in Al-Maabid area until the Haj season. We also seized 1,200 kg of liver and tripe from an unknown source. We seized five heads of sheep, 25 chickens and a large amount of inedible vegetables and fruits,” said Hazazzi. He added the people and visitors of Makkah need to feel safe wherever they go in the city. “The municipality works round-the-clock to ensure the safety of Makkah's environment, citizens, pilgrims and tourists. The Kingdom receives more than a million pilgrims a year from all over the Islamic World. It is our job to ensure they have a very comfortable and safe stay in the holy city,” said Hazazzi.
