The Al-Aziziyah branch municipality in Makkah has closed down three gas stations for various violations. The municipality chairman Ghazi Abdul Khaliq Al-Harbe said the stations failed to abide by the instructions of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to carry out development plans. He said some of them were working without proper licenses. The chairman said the ministry has made a number of conditions regarding architectural, constructional, electric, mechanic and security aspects which gas stations should strictly observe. Ghazi revealed that the municipality has constituted a high technical committee to monitor all gas stations within its jurisdiction. He said the committee consists of representatives from a number of government departments including the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Transport. He said the campaign against violating stations would continue until they have corrected their situations. — Saudi Gazette photo by Badea Abu Al-Naja