JEDDAH, 25 March 2006 — The Haj Ministry has taken punitive action against several domestic-pilgrim service companies for negligence. It suspended services of 10 companies for one to three years, the Saudi Press Agency said quoting an official statement.
The ministry was acting on the decisions taking by a three-member committee comprising representatives of the ministries of Interior, Haj and Commerce, which imposed fines ranging from SR5,000 to SR20,000 on 31 companies, the statement said.
The cases of 11 companies have been transferred to the Passport Department while that of five others to the Makkah governorate to take action.
The ministry has taken written undertakings from 26 companies.
“We will record all these punishments in the register of each company and take them into consideration while renewing their licenses,” the ministry said.
Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy has called on all companies operating in the sector to extend the best possible services to the guests of God.
