‘Bahrain making advanced sustainable development strides’

Manama, Oct. 2 (BNA): Bahrain has made advanced strides in achieving sustainable development goals as a result of the leadership’s directives, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, said. “Under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and thanks to the constant follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, the government has been keen on providing all requirements of sustainable urban development, and has shown great interest in the sustainable urban development in all areas through launching development policies and programmes across the kingdom’s governorates,” the minister said in a statement marking the kingdom’s celebration of the UN World Habitat Day which falls on Monday, October 3. Commenting on the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day, which is “Housing at the Centre”, the minister affirmed through the National Strategic Master Plan for Bahrain, the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has provided the necessary areas to meet the citizens’ various development needs, especially decent housing. “The National Strategic Master Plan for Bahrain draws the prospects of sustainable development in the kingdom in the future. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s issuance of Royal Decree 36/2016 on approving the plan proves the royal vision and desire to put in place the requirements of sustainable urban development for the present and future generations,” he said. “The efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in supporting and promoting sustainable development are not confined to the local level, and the HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Award for Sustainable Development granted recently at the UN headquarters in New York reflects Bahrain’s efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development at the global level,” he said. The minister added that this year’s UN World Habitat Day is celebrated after holding the Government Form 2016 in, held under the patronage of HRH Premier and attended by HRH the Crown Prince. The forum, he explained, reviewed the kingdom’s development achievements in the urban and housing fields under the government action plan, the Economic Vision for Bahrain, 2030, and the National Strategy, and confirmed Bahrain’s commitment to achieving development goals set by the International Community. Sharaf added that municipal councils in the kingdom are essential partners in the kingdom’s sustainable development efforts through the development projects they agree on, and through their participation in studying the urban planning projects to include the needs of their communities within the nation’s development process. He stressed that upon directives from the government, the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, and through the General Directorate of Urban Planning, will continue implementing the development strategies featuring in the National Master Plan for Bahrain in cooperation with the competent sides to achieve the goals of sustainable development.