JEDDAH, 22 October 2005 — Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has distributed more than 500,000 iftar meals all over the Kingdom so far this Ramadan. The distribution, part of a campaign called “Together in Obeying,” has taken place in seven different regions in the Kingdom.
The campaign sees young men in different areas stationed near traffic lights to distribute the meals just before sunset. The young men are dressed in blue T-Shirts and they distribute the meals with a smile, saying “With the compliments of STC.”
Saad Al-Qahtani, general manager for media affairs and marketing support at STC, said that the company believed that it had a duty to the community. “This is part of the charitable projects that the company plans to carry out all over the country,” said Al-Qahtani.
Asim Bukhari, a citizen who received one of STC’s meals at a traffic light, said that this is a great move which helps calm the fasting drivers. “Once the fasting driver has had his iftar, he will be able to drive home safely and calmly. We know very well that many accidents are caused by speeding drivers who are rushing home for iftar,” he said.
Abdullah Humoud, general manager, said that they tried to select the distribution points as carefully as possible. “We put the distributors at major intersections, at traffic lights and at the entrance of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,” he said.
He said that the company had distributors in Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushayt as well as in the Eastern Province. The iftar meals include a packet of dates, a bottle of water, juice and a piece of cake.
