Ministry of Haj has tightened control over Umrah establishments making them provide quality services to Umrah performers and visitors to the holy sites. The ministry has made all- out efforts to regulate the services of these establishments. Field inspectors, wearing ministry badges, are patrolling the areas in and around the Grand Mosque, to redress the grievances of any pilgrim against any Umrah establishment, Al-Madina said on Tuesday. Dr. Isa Rawas, undersecteraty at the Ministry of Haj for Umrah Affairs, said restrictive measures applied by the ministry in the past three years have yielded positive results. They are now reflected in the qualitative improvement in the service of Umrah establishments, he said. He said there has been a significant decline in the number of complaints lodged by pilgrims against Umrah establishments. Apart from this, he said these measures helped in curbing the phenomenon of overstaying. The ministry has chalked out fool-proof strategy to end the practice of overstaying. Any establishment found wanting in this regard will be severely punished including the cancelation of licenses. He said no Umrah establishment can avoid the ministry's surveillance for their computers are connected to the ministry's computer network. They are also constantly being watched, he said. Meanwhile, military and civil sectors in Halat-Ammar have been extending the required services to Umrah performers and visitors from Arab and Muslim countries in line with the directives of Prince Fahd Bin Sultan, Emir of Tabuk Region. Assistant Undersecretary of the Governorate of Tabuk Region for Security Affairs Khalifa Bin Hajhouj Al-Khalifa said the Haj and Umrah Committee here has been working around-the- clock for the service of the Umrah performers and visitors. All required services are being extended to the pilgrims, he added, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Several Umrah performers have expressed appreciation for the excellent facilities extended to them and highlighted the Kingdom's efforts in the service of Islam and Muslims. __
