NAJRAN: Najran Gov. Prince Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed has called for the maximum punishment of malls and shops not committed to coronavirus precautionary measures, as well as those involved in price manipulation, especially of goods related to Eid Al-Fitr.
In a virtual meeting with authorities responsible for monitoring markets and following up on the implementation of precautionary measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Prince Jalawi praised efforts to ensure the best services for citizens and residents and the punishment of violators guilty of price manipulation.
Maj. Gen. Saeed bin Mohammed Abu Dhiba, regional police chief, shed light on the coordination of authorities to implement the directions of Prince Jalawi to halt the spread of the virus, including arresting violators and referring them to the Public Prosecution.
The acting general director of health affairs in the region, Ibrahim Humaim, said that coordination was ongoing with regulators to assess the measures adopted in malls and shops.
Secretary of Najran Hamad Eiban said that the secretariat’s regulatory teams had intensified their visits to commercial stores and sites related to public health, including food supplies’ warehouses, vegetable and livestock markets, street vendors and slaughterhouses, to ensure the implementation of the health requirements and precautionary measures.
The head of the region’s Ministry of Commerce branch, Turki Al-Suleiman, stressed the teams’ determination to carry out the prince’s directions and protect consumers from overpricing and price manipulation.
The ministry’s branch in Najran had carried out more than 8,000 inspections this month, resulting in 1,333 reports and the detection of 318 violations, he said.
