This is in response to the story, “‘Excellent services’ for Haj pilgrims ordered.”The report says that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had urged all the government departments to double their efforts to provide excellent services to the millions of Haj pilgrims from all over the world.

No doubt the government of Saudi Arabia offers the best possible services to the Haj pilgrims. Fortunately my family and I had a chance to visit Madinah and Makkah to perform Umrah three weeks before.

But one thing that worries me is the sudden rise in prices of foodstuff during the Haj season which impacts the pilgrims coming from poor countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan as well as from other Asian countries. My request to the concerned authorities to kindly keep an eye on the price hike of necessary foodstuff and other commodities and keep those persons under control who are trying to cheat these poor pilgrims. — Aziz Ahmad Khan, Riyadh