Preparations for pilgrims in Madinah complete

MADINAH: Madinah Mayor Khaled Taher said that the municipality’s preparations for this year's Haj have been completed as scheduled. The municipality’s action plan aims at offering pilgrims and visitors optimum services which will last until Nov. 8. The round-the-clock services include cleaning the areas which are frequented by pilgrims and the inspection of markets. “Some 4,876 qualified and trained workers will discharge their duties with the help of 1,344 pieces of purpose-built equipment,” the mayor added. He noted that the municipal staff is also prepared to supervise services related to health and hygiene, general cleanliness, markets and abattoirs. “There will also be monitoring committees to deal with hawkers and see that they abide by the regulations particularly in the central zone and other pilgrim areas including the Quba Masjid, Qiblatain Masjid and Miqat where more than 500 stalls are operating with valid licenses,” Khaled Taher said, adding that violators would be dealt with severely and that special care was being taken to keep the passageways between the stalls free for pedestrians. He noted that the municipality had also cooperated with the pilgrims’ accommodation committee with 20 trained workers. “The municipality has asphalted the roads and built pavements on the streets leading to pilgrims’ service centers and bus stations on the Hijra Road,” he underscored. Arab News