JEDDAH: ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS STAFF
Published — Monday 2 September 2013

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved a $200 million (SR750 million) program for the resistance of Palestinian cities, Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb announced Sunday.

Prince Mansour made this announcement while opening a conference of the Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities in Makkah. He commended King Abdullah’s support for the organization.

He noted the topic “Enacting laws for the protection of environment to achieve sustainable development” that was selected for an international seminar being held on the sidelines of the conference.

He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s support for safeguarding the Arab and Islamic character of Palestinian cities against Judaization. He said the new program, named after King Abdullah, would be implemented by the organization in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and UN Habitat.

He said the $200 million would be utilized to build infrastructure facilities and expansion of drinking water purification plants in Palestinian cities.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said: “We have set out a strategy for the development of Makkah. The main focus of this strategy is that 40 percent of its projects would be carried out by the private sector.”

The governor likened the Makkah region to the solar system with Makkah representing the sun and Jeddah and Taif its planets.

He also disclosed his plans to write a book named “From and to the Kaaba.”

He said the governorate has instructed all cities in the region to preserve their Islamic heritage. “Makkah is not like other cities that are developed for economic benefits. We have carried out huge projects in the city for the benefit of Haj and Umrah pilgrims,” he added.

Ahmed Mohammed Sayed, mayor of Doha and president of the current session, said the conference would contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development in Islamic capitals and cities.

SOURCE: http://arabnews.com/news/463291

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